Compare towns
Hope vs Jay vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Jay | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,748 |
471Lowest |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Jay 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Mapleton 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±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
— | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,842Highest 23% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jay 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.