Compare towns
Appleton vs New Limerick 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
New Limerick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).
Hope has the most expensive homes ($373k median).
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 | New Limerick | Hope | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
372Lowest |
1,748 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+12.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
58.3±10.3Highest 30% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| New Limerick 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% |
15.3%±7.9Lowest 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%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
37.1%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| New Limerick 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% ME: 36.2% |
18.9%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% |
5.1%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| New Limerick 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 |
$53,810±$7k 28% 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 |
$196,900±$120kLowest 34% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$775±$388Lowest 32% 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 |
$1,221Lowest 60% 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% |
33.3%±52.5 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% |
15.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
80%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 |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
20 min 19% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
5.2%±7.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Union 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 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.