Compare towns
Alexander vs Appleton vs Hope vs Cooper
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alexander has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
Appleton has the most renters (17.4% rent).
Hope has the most expensive homes ($373k median).
Cooper has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
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 | Alexander | Appleton | Hope | Cooper |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 553 |
1,360 |
1,748Highest |
157Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 52.8±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
46.5±9.1 4% above ME |
| Alexander and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±17 ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Alexander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±14 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Cooper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±9.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Alexander and Cooper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,750±$10kHighest 25% above ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$48,750±$15kLowest 35% below ME |
| Alexander and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$54kLowest 35% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$212,500±$66k 28% below ME |
| 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 | $1,781Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,929 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
— |
| Appleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9% ME: 74.3% |
95% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 26% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
20 min 19% below ME |
44 minHighest 78% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.5%±11 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Cooper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Alexander 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 | 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.