Compare towns
Etna vs Mapleton vs Hope vs Linneus
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 homeowners (94.9%).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Linneus has the most affordable homes ($144k 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 | Etna | Mapleton | Hope | Linneus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,252 |
1,884Highest |
1,748 |
1,226Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.6% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.4 6% below ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
44.6±3.1Highest about the ME average |
44.6±3.9Highest about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
24%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Linneus and Hope 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
11.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4 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 | $72,379±$16k 3% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$65,114±$18kLowest 13% 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 | $183,000±$49k 38% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$144,200±$53kLowest 51% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,745 43% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,608Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
53.8%±55 ME: 48.4% |
| Etna and Linneus 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9% ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 12% above ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
20 min 19% below ME |
17 minLowest 29% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.3 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Hope Public Schools | — |
| High school 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.