Compare towns
Danforth vs Hope vs Mapleton vs Readfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Readfield has the most people working from home (24.3%).
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 | Danforth | Hope | Mapleton | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666Lowest |
1,748 |
1,884 |
2,651Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
| Danforth and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9 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+ | 26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$86,504±$8k 16% 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 | $89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$326,400±$20k 10% above ME |
| Hope and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$29 45% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,125±$844 about the ME average |
| Hope and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,392 12% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Hope and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 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 |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Readfield and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Hope Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.5 |
| 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.