Compare towns
Appleton vs Hope vs Limerick vs Wayne
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).
Hope has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Limerick has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Hope | Limerick | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,748 |
3,400Highest |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.2% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
40.4±9.2Lowest 10% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
| Wayne 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% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Limerick 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% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne 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% |
47.4% ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne 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 |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$101,172±$15kHighest 35% above ME |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
| Limerick and Wayne 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 |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$269,400±$29k 9% below ME |
$362,800±$29k 22% above ME |
| Hope and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,219±$182 7% above ME |
$1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
| Limerick 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 |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$2,520Lowest 17% below ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Limerick 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% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.9% ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.8% ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
38 minHighest 53% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
15.2%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Hope Public Schools | — | RSU 38 |
| 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.