Compare towns
Appleton vs Newry vs Stoneham 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 most renters (17.4% rent).
Newry has the oldest population (median age 61.1).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (40.7%).
Hope has the most kids (23.3% 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 | Newry | Stoneham | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
177Lowest |
271 |
1,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | — | +10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
61.1±5Highest 36% above ME |
60.6±7.1 35% above ME |
44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
| Newry and Stoneham 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% |
13.6%±12.2 ME: 18.1% |
5.9%±7.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Appleton 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% |
42.4%±14.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
41%±17.8 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Newry and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
37.8% ME: 36.2% |
37.8% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
14.8%±13.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Stoneham 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 |
$67,000±$23k 10% below ME |
$63,750±$27k 15% below ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
| Hope and Newry 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 |
$307,700±$69k 4% above ME |
$226,200±$32kLowest 24% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
| Hope and Newry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,125±$666 about the ME average |
$1,125±$383 about the ME average |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
| Hope and Newry 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 |
$2,438 20% below ME |
$1,426Lowest 53% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
66.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Stoneham 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% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.4% ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
89.8% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
29 min 18% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±9.6 ME: 15.9% |
40.7%±15.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Stoneham 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 |
| High school 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.