Compare towns
Hiram vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Baldwin
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).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Baldwin has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Mapleton | Appleton | Baldwin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748 |
1,884Highest |
1,360 |
1,170Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±10.2Lowest 7% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
50.6±4.6Highest 13% above ME |
| Baldwin and Appleton 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
12.1%±3Lowest 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+ | 15.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Baldwin and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.2Highest 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 | $62,813±$10k 16% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$68,045±$8k 9% 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 | $256,600±$42k 13% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$263,200±$38kHighest 11% 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±$161 6% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
— |
| Appleton and Hiram 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,540 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24.1 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
89%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 28% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
32 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.6%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Mapleton 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 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Sacopee Valley High Sch | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.