Compare towns
Appleton vs Unity vs Jackson 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).
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Hope has the most expensive homes ($373k median).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Jackson | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,858Highest |
567Lowest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
37.7±5.8 16% 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%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Jackson 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% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 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% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
| Hope and Jackson 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 |
$206,900±$28kLowest 30% below ME |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% 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 |
$2,510Lowest 17% below ME |
$2,651 13% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Unity 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% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | — | Hope Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— | — |
| 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.