Compare towns
Columbia vs Hope vs Mapleton vs Harrington
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 kids (24.2% under 18).
Hope has the most expensive homes ($373k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Harrington has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
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 | Harrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 529Lowest |
1,748 |
1,884Highest |
917 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±6.4 6% below ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
49.2±12.1Highest 10% above ME |
| Harrington and Hope 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%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
15.7%±3.9Lowest 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%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Harrington and Columbia 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% |
27.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.1%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$64,861±$17k 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 | $158,700±$19k 46% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$144,600±$71kLowest 51% 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 |
$1,777 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±100 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
79.3%±39Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Harrington and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.4% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.8% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 27% above ME |
20 min 19% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
| Work from home | 9%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
1.7%±1.6Lowest 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 | RSU 37/MSAD 37 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Narraguagus High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.2 |
| 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.