Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Hope vs Mapleton vs Ripley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
Hope has the most expensive homes ($373k median).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Ripley has the most affordable homes ($144k median).
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 | Bridgewater | Hope | Mapleton | Ripley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 484 |
1,748 |
1,884Highest |
436Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 48.8±8Highest 9% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
47.7±5.3 6% above ME |
| Bridgewater and Ripley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±6.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.5%±2.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.7%±4.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
19.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±6 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Ripley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,417±$15k 12% below ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$64,821±$13kLowest 13% below ME |
| Mapleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $154,900±$78k 48% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$144,300±$33kLowest 51% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $768±$116 33% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,091±$281 4% below ME |
| Hope and Ripley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,417 53% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.9%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±73.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
11.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 10% below ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
32 minHighest 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.5%±5.1 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Hope Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| 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.