Compare towns
Appleton vs Levant vs Stetson 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 oldest population (median age 49.2).
Levant has the youngest population (median age 39.7).
Stetson has the most affordable homes ($206k median).
Hope has the most people working from home (18.3%).
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 | Levant | Stetson | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
3,069Highest |
1,151Lowest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+3.1% ME: +2.6% |
-1.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
39.7±2.2Lowest 11% below ME |
42.2±5.1 6% below ME |
44.6±3.1 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% |
19.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Stetson 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% |
18.1%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
14.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 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% |
21.6% ME: 36.2% |
19.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Stetson 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 |
$86,071±$22k 15% above ME |
$76,023±$28k about the ME average |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
| Hope and Levant 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 |
$268,500±$27k 9% below ME |
$205,700±$34kLowest 31% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,370±$120Highest 20% above ME |
$800±$377Lowest 30% below ME |
$1,219±$182 7% above ME |
| Levant 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 |
$2,580 15% below ME |
$1,962Lowest 35% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
45.7%±14 ME: 48.4% |
73.7%±42 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Stetson 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% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.9% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1995Highest 18 yrs newer than ME |
1993 16 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
31 min 27% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±5.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Appleton 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 | — | #124 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | — | Hope Public Schools |
| 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.