Compare towns
Appleton vs Baldwin vs Sebago vs Hope
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 affordable homes ($236k median).
Baldwin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Sebago has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
Hope has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Baldwin | Sebago | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,170Lowest |
2,073Highest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
50.6±4.6Highest 13% above ME |
40.7±3.9Lowest 9% below ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
| Baldwin and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
12.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Sebago are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Baldwin and Appleton 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% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Baldwin and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$68,045±$8k 9% below ME |
$78,438±$15k 5% above ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
| Hope and Sebago are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$263,200±$38k 11% below ME |
$298,000±$46k about the ME average |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
| Hope and Sebago 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 |
— | $1,533±$292Highest 35% above ME |
$1,219±$182 7% above ME |
| Sebago and Hope 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 |
$2,540Lowest 16% below ME |
$2,543 16% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.3%±30.3 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Sebago 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% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
13.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89% ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
32 min 32% above ME |
37 minHighest 52% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Sebago are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | Sebago 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.