Compare towns
Baldwin vs Peru vs Hiram
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Baldwin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
Hiram has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Baldwin | Peru | Hiram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,170Lowest |
1,501 |
1,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±4.6Highest 13% above ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
41.6±10.2Lowest 7% below ME |
| Baldwin and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hiram and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
15.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Baldwin and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Baldwin and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,045±$8kHighest 9% below ME |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
$62,813±$10kLowest 16% below ME |
| Baldwin and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,200±$38kHighest 11% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$256,600±$42k 13% below ME |
| Baldwin and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
$1,070±$161Highest 6% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,540Highest 16% below ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,106 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Hiram and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
12.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 32% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
31 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.6%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Peru and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 56 | RSU 55/MSAD 55 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Sacopee Valley High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.