Compare towns
Appleton vs Ogunquit vs Pittston 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 affordable homes ($236k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Pittston has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
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 | Ogunquit | Pittston | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,379 |
3,093Highest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.8% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
41.4±5.9Lowest 8% below ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±7.4 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Pittston 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±6.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit 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% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±4.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Pittston and Ogunquit 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$86,614±$18k 16% above ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Hope 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$238,700±$66k 20% below ME |
$373,400±$33k 26% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
— | $1,080±$593Lowest 5% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
| Hope and Appleton 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 |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,909Lowest 37% below ME |
$3,842 27% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
57.6%±34.6 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Pittston 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #123 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 11/MSAD 11 | 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.