Compare towns
Hope vs Brooks vs Appleton vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Brooks has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Dedham has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Hope | Brooks | Appleton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748Highest |
1,208Lowest |
1,360 |
1,656 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
| Appleton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4% ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$59,130±$10k 21% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
| Hope and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182 7% above ME |
$1,116±$112 about the ME average |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
| Dedham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,842 27% above ME |
$2,096Lowest 31% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 19% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Hope Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Appleton Public Schools | Dedham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.