Compare towns
Dresden vs Hope vs Mapleton vs Otisfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Otisfield has the oldest population (median age 56.8).
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 | Dresden | Hope | Mapleton | Otisfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,645Lowest |
1,748 |
1,884 |
1,951Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±7.9 23% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
56.8±4.8Highest 27% above ME |
| Otisfield and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
16.1%±3.5Lowest 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+ | 24.8%±8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.7%±1.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Dresden and Otisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
31% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,844±$22kLowest about the ME average |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$84,271±$15k 13% 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 | $240,100±$29k 19% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$317,200±$35k 7% above ME |
| Hope and Otisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$502 5% above ME |
$1,219±$182 7% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,300±$872Highest 14% above ME |
| Otisfield and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,500 18% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,652 13% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
77.3%±92.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Otisfield and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 35% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±6.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Otisfield and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 02 | Hope Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| High school in town | None 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.