Compare towns
Appleton vs Brooks vs Union 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 oldest population (median age 49.2).
Brooks has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Brooks | Union | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,208Lowest |
2,663Highest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Brooks 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% |
17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Hope 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% |
17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Union 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% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks 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 |
$59,130±$10k 21% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
| Hope and Union 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 |
$196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,116±$112 about the ME average |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
| Hope and Union 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 |
$2,096Lowest 31% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 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 | 9.7% ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
29 min 20% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Hope Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.