Compare towns
Appleton vs Freeport vs York 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).
Freeport has the most renters (22.4% rent).
York has the most expensive homes ($636k median).
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 | Freeport | York | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
8,802 |
13,986Highest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
48.8±4.3 9% above ME |
49.5±5.2Highest 10% above ME |
44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
| York 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% |
19.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
21.1%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and York 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% |
26.7%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
27.9%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| York and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
59.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
53.1% ME: 36.2% |
47.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Freeport 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 |
$107,326±$19k 44% above ME |
$121,250±$25kHighest 62% above ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
| York and Freeport 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 |
$508,400±$76k 71% above ME |
$636,400±$30kHighest 115% above ME |
$373,400±$33k 26% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,439±$123 26% above ME |
$1,490±$336Highest 31% above ME |
$1,219±$182 7% above ME |
| York and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 18% above ME |
$5,042Highest 66% above ME |
$4,658 53% above ME |
$3,842 27% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9 ME: 48.4% |
56.5%±10.8 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.5% ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
26%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
| York and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #4 of 133 in ME | #13 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 05 | York Public Schools | Hope Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Freeport High School | York High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
9.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.