Compare towns
Baldwin vs Starks vs Mapleton 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%).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Starks | Mapleton | Hiram |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,170 |
556Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-0.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±4.6Highest 13% above ME |
46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41.6±10.2Lowest 7% below ME |
| Baldwin and Starks 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% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton 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% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
15.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% ME: 36.2% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Baldwin and Mapleton 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 |
$63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$62,813±$10kLowest 16% below ME |
| Mapleton 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±$38kHighest 11% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% 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 | — | $1,063±$301 7% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,070±$161Highest 6% below ME |
| Hiram and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,540Highest 16% below ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,106 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Hiram and Starks 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% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
12.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%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 |
1977 same as ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 32% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
31 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.6%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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 | 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.