Compare towns
Mapleton vs Hope vs Baldwin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Baldwin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Mapleton | Hope | Baldwin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,884Highest |
1,748 |
1,170Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
50.6±4.6Highest 13% above ME |
| Baldwin and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
12.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest 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 | $91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$68,045±$8kLowest 9% below ME |
| Mapleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$263,200±$38k 11% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$2,540 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Hope and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
32 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Hope Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.