Compare towns
Etna vs Hope vs Mapleton vs Dixmont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Etna has the most affordable homes ($183k median).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Dixmont has the most people working from home (21.9%).
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 | Etna | Hope | Mapleton | Dixmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,252 |
1,748 |
1,884Highest |
1,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.6% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.4 6% below ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
50.9±4.7Highest 14% above ME |
| Dixmont and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6.7 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±4.2Lowest 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+ | 18.5%±1.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.4%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Hope and Dixmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
24.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Dixmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,379±$16kLowest 3% below ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$75,952±$14k about the ME average |
| Mapleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,000±$49kLowest 38% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$190,700±$22k 36% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,219±$182 7% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,348±$62Highest 18% above ME |
| Dixmont and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,745 43% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,548Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.2%±70.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Etna and Dixmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
92.9% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 12% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
35 minHighest 40% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Dixmont 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 19 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.