Compare towns
Acton vs Appleton vs Hope
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Hope has the most kids (23.3% 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 | Acton | Appleton | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
| Acton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Acton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15k 5% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
| Hope and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34k 13% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
| Hope and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
| Hope and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 12% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 64% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Acton 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 | #43 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | Hope Public Schools |
| High school in town | None 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.