Compare towns
Freedom vs Hope vs Mapleton vs Cambridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freedom has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Hope has the most expensive homes ($373k median).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Cambridge has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
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 | Freedom | Hope | Mapleton | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 670 |
1,748 |
1,884Highest |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.1% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 40.1±2.7 10% below ME |
44.6±3.1Highest about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
38.7±1.1Lowest 14% below ME |
| Hope and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±8.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.6%±8 ME: 22.4% |
| Freedom and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.2% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±3 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 | $64,861±$12k 13% below ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$63,194±$39kLowest 15% 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 | $190,600±$69kLowest 36% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$214,900±$61k 28% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,328 23% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,574Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±100 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Hope and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
14.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% ME: 74.3% |
92.9% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 29% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
41 minHighest 65% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.4%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
1.7%±1.5Lowest 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 | — | 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 | 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.