Compare towns
Columbia vs Hope vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Columbia has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Hope has the most expensive homes ($373k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Columbia | Hope | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 529Lowest |
1,748 |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±6.4 6% below ME |
44.6±3.1Highest about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Hope and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Columbia and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.9%±5.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Columbia and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.1%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Columbia and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,667±$15kLowest 24% below ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above 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 | $158,700±$19kLowest 46% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $894±$162 22% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Hope and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,226Lowest 60% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Columbia and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.8% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 27% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 9%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 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 |
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.