Compare towns
Embden vs Hope vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Embden has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
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 | Embden | Hope | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 995Lowest |
1,748 |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 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+ | 34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,875±$23kLowest 24% below ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% 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 | $173,400±$59kLowest 42% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,804 41% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Hope and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
92.9% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 34% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Embden 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 |
| High school 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.