Compare towns
Hiram vs Hope vs Mapleton vs Sebago
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hope has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Sebago has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
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 | Hiram | Hope | Mapleton | Sebago |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748Lowest |
1,748Lowest |
1,884 |
2,073Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±10.2 7% below ME |
44.6±3.1Highest about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
40.7±3.9Lowest 9% 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 | 20.9%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest 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+ | 15.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Hope and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Sebago are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,813±$10kLowest 16% below ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$78,438±$15k 5% above 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 | $256,600±$42k 13% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$298,000±$46k about the ME average |
| Hope and Sebago are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,070±$161 6% below ME |
$1,219±$182 7% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,533±$292Highest 35% above ME |
| Sebago and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,106 31% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,543 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.3%±30.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Hiram and Sebago are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.6% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 1 yr older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 28% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
37 minHighest 52% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.6%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Sebago are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 55/MSAD 55 | Hope Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Sebago Public Schools |
| High school in town | Sacopee Valley High Sch | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.