Compare towns
Hermon vs Hope vs Mapleton vs South Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
Hope has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
South Berwick has the most expensive homes ($428k 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 | Hermon | Hope | Mapleton | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,727 |
1,748Lowest |
1,884 |
7,670Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +19.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±4.7 8% below ME |
44.6±3.1Highest about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% 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 | 21.6%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Hope and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,629±$22k 29% above ME |
$86,766±$6kLowest 16% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$99,572±$13kHighest 33% above ME |
| South Berwick and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,600±$32k 12% above ME |
$373,400±$33k 26% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$428,300±$26kHighest 44% above ME |
| South Berwick and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$202 23% above ME |
$1,219±$182 7% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,761 9% below ME |
$3,842 27% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.2%±19.1 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| South Berwick and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
78.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2000Highest 23 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 8% below ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and South Berwick 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 | #54 of 133 in ME | — | — | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hermon Public Schools | Hope Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Hermon High School | None in town | None in town | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
— | — | 13.0Lowest |
| 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.