Compare towns
Appleton vs Addison vs Hope vs Liberty
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most renters (17.4% rent).
Addison has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Hope has the most expensive homes ($373k median).
Liberty has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
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 | Appleton | Addison | Hope | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,045 |
1,748Highest |
969Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-9.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
54.2±3.9Highest 21% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
40.5±6.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| Addison and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.7%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.4 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±2.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
19.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$50,524±$8kLowest 32% below ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$71,146±$15k 5% below ME |
| Hope and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$163,500±$28kLowest 45% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$229,600±$31k 23% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$900±$807 21% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$559±$193Lowest 51% 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 | $3,588 18% above ME |
$1,625Lowest 46% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$2,434 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
60%±47.6 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% ME: 10.7% |
22.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
27 min 11% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 37/MSAD 37 | Hope Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | None 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.