Compare towns
Appleton vs Hope vs Lovell vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Lovell has the most people working from home (21.8%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Lovell | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,748 |
1,353Lowest |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
52.2±3.5Highest 17% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Lovell 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% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.4%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Mapleton 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% |
26.5%±3.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Lovell 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
36.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.3%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Lovell and Mapleton 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 |
$80,625±$20k 8% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Hope 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 |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$295,000±$47k about the ME average |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Hope and Lovell 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 |
$1,419±$178Highest 25% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Lovell 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 |
$1,480Lowest 51% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
45.3%±29.3 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Lovell 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% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
31 minHighest 28% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
21.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Lovell 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 72/MSAD 72 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| 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.