Compare towns
Cornville vs Hope vs Mapleton vs Athens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cornville has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($153k 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 | Cornville | Hope | Mapleton | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,419 |
1,748 |
1,884Highest |
791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-6.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.1±7.4Highest 12% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
| Cornville and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±5.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5 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+ | 18.8%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Athens and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,926±$18k 7% above ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$50,750±$14kLowest 32% 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 | $167,400±$14k 44% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,366±$181Highest 20% above ME |
$1,219±$182 7% above ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
| Cornville and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,808 40% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 15.2%±31.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.2% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% ME: 74.3% |
92.9% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 15% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 minHighest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.9%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1 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 | Athens Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None 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.