Compare towns
Hope vs Jackson vs Dedham vs Appleton
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).
Jackson has the youngest population (median age 37.7).
Dedham has the highest household income ($111k).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
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 | Hope | Jackson | Dedham | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748Highest |
567Lowest |
1,656 |
1,360 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% 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%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest 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% |
17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest 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% |
41.9% ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Dedham 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 |
$75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$231,500±$16kLowest 22% below ME |
$356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below 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 |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below 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 |
$2,651Lowest 13% below ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest 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% |
13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 19% below ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Hope Public Schools | — | Dedham Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools |
| High school 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.