What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).

Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hope	Cushing
People
Population	1,748Highest	1,460Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6%	-2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average	48.8±7.7Highest 9% above ME
	Cushing and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1%	17.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Hope and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±1.3Highest ME: 22.4%	20.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Hope and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.4%Highest ME: 36.2%	38.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.4%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Cushing and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME	$83,500±$19kLowest 12% above ME
	Hope and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$373,400±$33kLowest 26% above ME	$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME
	Cushing and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,219±$182Lowest 7% above ME	$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME
	Cushing and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,842Lowest 27% above ME	$3,944Highest 30% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±38.7Highest ME: 48.4%	33.7%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Hope and Cushing 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%	7.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	84.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME	1990Lowest 13 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 19% below ME	23 minHighest 5% below ME
Work from home	18.3%±10.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Cushing and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Hope Public Schools	RSU 13
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.