Compare towns
Appleton vs Madison vs Hope vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the most renters (45.4% rent).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Madison | Hope | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
4,782Highest |
1,748 |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-2.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Madison 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% |
14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Hope 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% |
25.1%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Madison 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% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Madison 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 |
$61,747±$11k 17% below ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Hope and Union 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 |
$187,600±$40kLowest 37% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$906±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Hope and Union 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 |
$1,983Lowest 35% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Hope 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% |
15%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Madison 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 | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | Hope Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— | — |
| 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.