Compare towns
Anson vs Appleton vs Hope vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Anson has the most affordable homes ($100k median).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Hope has the most people working from home (18.3%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Anson | Appleton | Hope | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,360 |
1,748 |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±15.2 3% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.2%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 8.2%±5.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 5.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,770±$61k 17% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $100,400±$28kLowest 66% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $914±$247 20% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Hope and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,207Lowest 60% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest 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 | 8.7% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 27 yrs older than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 26% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 0%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | Hope Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| 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.