Compare towns
Appleton vs Hope vs Steep Falls
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 the most people working from home (18.3%).
Steep Falls has the most renters (19.8% rent).
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 | Steep Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,748 |
1,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
44.1±6.5Lowest about the ME average |
| 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% |
22.9%±9.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Steep Falls 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%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
9.7%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Hope 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% |
14.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Steep Falls 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±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$80,280±$33k 7% above ME |
| Hope and Steep Falls 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 |
$243,400±$31k 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,219±$182 7% above ME |
$1,516±$1kHighest 33% above ME |
| Steep Falls 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 |
$3,273Lowest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
66.4%±36.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Steep Falls 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% |
7.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
31 minHighest 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
4%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Appleton 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 | — |
| High school 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.