Compare towns
Durham vs Hope vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the highest household income ($99k).
Hope has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Union has the most affordable homes ($268k 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 | Durham | Hope | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Highest |
1,748Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
44.6±3.1Highest about the ME average |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Hope and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Union and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$80,724±$9kLowest 8% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34k 9% above ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$267,600±$42kLowest 10% below ME |
| Hope and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$1,179±$452Lowest 4% above ME |
| Hope and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781 25% above ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$3,276Lowest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Hope and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
92.9% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Durham 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 | #14 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 05 | Hope Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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 |
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.