Compare towns
Hampden vs Hope vs Mapleton vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampden has the highest household income ($112k).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Topsham has the most renters (21.1% 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 | Hampden | Hope | Mapleton | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,161 |
1,748Lowest |
1,884 |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±6.3Lowest 8% below ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
44.7±4Highest about the ME average |
| Topsham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±7.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Topsham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9% ME: 36.2% |
47.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,228±$22kHighest 50% above ME |
$86,766±$6kLowest 16% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
| Hampden and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,900±$33k 4% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$360,800±$20k 22% above ME |
| Hope and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$375 about the ME average |
$1,219±$182 7% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME |
| Topsham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,863 27% above ME |
$3,842 27% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$4,259Highest 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.2%±18 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 9% below ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Topsham 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 | #6 of 133 in ME | — | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Hope Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.2 |
| 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.