Compare towns
Hope vs Hermon vs Appleton vs Camden
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 most homeowners (92.9%).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Camden has the most expensive homes ($521k 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 | Hope | Hermon | Appleton | Camden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748 |
6,727Highest |
1,360Lowest |
5,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5% ME: +2.6% |
+19.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
41.1±4.7Lowest 8% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
52.2±6.5Highest 17% above ME |
| Camden and Appleton 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% |
21.6%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Hermon 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% |
20.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
38%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Camden and Appleton 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% |
37.6% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
62.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Hermon 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 |
$96,629±$22kHighest 29% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$82,344±$15k 10% above ME |
| Hermon and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,400±$33k 26% above ME |
$333,600±$32k 12% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$520,600±$70kHighest 76% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182 7% above ME |
$1,406±$202Highest 23% above ME |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,269±$354 11% above ME |
| Hermon and Camden 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 |
$2,761Lowest 9% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$5,832Highest 92% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
28.2%±19.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
39.9%±15.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Camden 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% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
75.2% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
73.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
2000Highest 23 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 19% below ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
22 min 11% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Camden and Hope 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 | — | #11 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hope Public Schools | Hermon Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 28/MSAD 28 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hermon High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6 |
— | — |
| 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.