What stands out worked out from the figures below

Parsonsfield has the most kids (25% under 18).

Baldwin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Parsonsfield	Baldwin
People
Population	1,715Highest	1,170Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-0.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.3±5.9Lowest about the ME average	50.6±4.6Highest 13% above ME
	Baldwin and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%	12.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	18%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	27.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	23.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,045±$18kHighest 4% below ME	$68,045±$8kLowest 9% below ME
	Parsonsfield and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$272,100±$21kHighest 8% below ME	$263,200±$38kLowest 11% below ME
	Parsonsfield and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,185±$312 4% above ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,350Lowest 23% below ME	$2,540Highest 16% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	78.2%±35Highest ME: 48.4%	16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Parsonsfield and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	89%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest same as ME	1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	48 minHighest 97% above ME	32 minLowest 32% above ME
Work from home	5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	8.8%±4.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Baldwin and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.