Compare towns
Anson vs Appleton vs Hope vs Madison
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 ($118k median).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Hope has the most expensive homes ($373k median).
Madison has the most renters (61.1% rent).
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 | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,331 |
1,360Lowest |
1,748 |
2,676Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
44.9±12.3 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±7.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$61,698±$20k 17% below ME |
| Hope and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$163,900±$59k 45% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $928±$62 19% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$850±$218Lowest 25% 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 | $1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,740 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
22.5%±13.9 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 | 8.8% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 32% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
31 min 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | Appleton Public Schools | Hope Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Carrabec High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — | — |
| 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.