Compare towns
Denmark vs Hope vs Mapleton vs Waterford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Denmark has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Waterford has the most people working from home (18.8%).
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 | Denmark | Hope | Mapleton | Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,054Lowest |
1,748 |
1,884Highest |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.4±5Highest 21% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
54.3±1.6 21% above ME |
| Denmark and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
12.9%±3.7Lowest 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+ | 31.8%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Denmark and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
30.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±3.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,167±$10kLowest 14% below ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$66,071±$17k 12% 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 | $250,000±$68k 16% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$273,800±$36k 8% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,409±$207Highest 24% above ME |
$1,219±$182 7% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$870±$405 24% below ME |
| Denmark and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,259 26% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,917 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90.6%±31Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.6%±34 ME: 48.4% |
| Denmark and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
16.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 39% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
34 minHighest 40% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Waterford and Hope 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 17/MSAD 17 |
| 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.