Compare towns
Cooper vs Hope vs Alexander
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cooper has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
Hope has the most expensive homes ($373k median).
Alexander has the oldest population (median age 52.8).
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 | Cooper | Hope | Alexander |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 157Lowest |
1,748Highest |
553 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.5% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 46.5±9.1 4% above ME |
44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
52.8±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
| Alexander and Cooper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±17Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Alexander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±14Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Cooper and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±9.8 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Alexander and Cooper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $48,750±$15kLowest 35% below ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$93,750±$10kHighest 25% above ME |
| Alexander and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $212,500±$66k 28% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$193,800±$54kLowest 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,219±$182 7% above ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,929 36% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,781Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 37.8%±38.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Hope and Alexander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 44 minHighest 78% above ME |
20 min 19% below ME |
18 minLowest 26% below ME |
| Work from home | 13.5%±11 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Cooper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Hope Public Schools | Alexander Public Schools |
| 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.