Compare towns
Baldwin vs Poland 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 the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Poland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.9%).
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 | Poland | Hiram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,170Lowest |
5,954Highest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+9.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±4.6Highest 13% above ME |
44.2±9.4 about the ME average |
41.6±10.2Lowest 7% below ME |
| Baldwin and Poland 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% |
21.4%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Poland and Hiram 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% |
17.8%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
15.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.8% ME: 36.2% |
25%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Baldwin and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,045±$8k 9% below ME |
$85,557±$23kHighest 14% above ME |
$62,813±$10kLowest 16% below ME |
| Poland and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,200±$38k 11% below ME |
$283,600±$44kHighest 4% below ME |
$256,600±$42kLowest 13% below ME |
| Poland and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,198±$128Highest 5% above ME |
$1,070±$161Lowest 6% below ME |
| Poland and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,540 16% below ME |
$2,774Highest 9% below ME |
$2,106Lowest 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
61.6%±30.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Poland and Hiram 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% |
16.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 32% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
31 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.6%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Poland and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #81 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 16 | RSU 55/MSAD 55 |
| High school in town | — | Poland Regional H S | Sacopee Valley High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.