Compare towns
Hiram vs Baldwin vs Canaan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hiram has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
Baldwin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($160k median).
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 | Hiram | Baldwin | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,748 |
1,170Lowest |
2,063Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±10.2Lowest 7% below ME |
50.6±4.6Highest 13% above ME |
44.2±6.1 about the ME average |
| Baldwin and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
12.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Canaan and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.8%±4.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Baldwin and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,813±$10k 16% below ME |
$68,045±$8kHighest 9% below ME |
$57,781±$13kLowest 23% below ME |
| Baldwin and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,600±$42k 13% below ME |
$263,200±$38kHighest 11% below ME |
$159,900±$28kLowest 46% 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 | $1,070±$161Highest 6% below ME |
— | $922±$252Lowest 19% below ME |
| Hiram and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,106 31% below ME |
$2,540Highest 16% below ME |
$1,530Lowest 50% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.3%±27.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Hiram and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.6% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 28% above ME |
32 min 32% above ME |
34 minHighest 38% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.6%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.1%±2.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Baldwin and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 55/MSAD 55 | — | RSU 54/MSAD 54 |
| High school in town | Sacopee Valley High Sch | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.