Compare towns
Poland vs Baldwin vs Oakland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Poland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.9%).
Baldwin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Oakland has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
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 | Poland | Baldwin | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,954 |
1,170Lowest |
6,309Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.2±9.4 about the ME average |
50.6±4.6Highest 13% above ME |
40.2±6.9Lowest 10% below ME |
| Baldwin and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
12.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Oakland and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±3.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% ME: 36.2% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Baldwin and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,557±$23kHighest 14% above ME |
$68,045±$8kLowest 9% below ME |
$77,813±$16k 4% above ME |
| Poland and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,600±$44kHighest 4% below ME |
$263,200±$38k 11% below ME |
$236,000±$23kLowest 20% below ME |
| Poland and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$128Highest 5% above ME |
— | $939±$74Lowest 18% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,774Highest 9% below ME |
$2,540 16% below ME |
$2,439Lowest 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.6%±30.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Oakland and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.9% ME: 74.3% |
89%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
32 minHighest 32% above ME |
27 minLowest 8% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.9%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Poland and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 133 in ME | — | #23 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 16 | — | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | Poland Regional H S | — | Messalonskee High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 14.2Highest |
| 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.