Compare towns
Appleton vs Hope vs Palermo
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).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Palermo has the most people working from home (18.8%).
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 | Palermo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,748Highest |
1,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
43.4±6.1Lowest 3% below ME |
| Appleton and Hope 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% |
18.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Palermo 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% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Palermo 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Palermo 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 |
$89,095±$15kHighest 19% above ME |
| Palermo 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±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$259,700±$54k 12% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,219±$182 7% above ME |
$1,235±$1kHighest 8% above ME |
| Palermo 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 |
$2,506Lowest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Palermo 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% ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Palermo 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 12 |
| 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 |
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.