Compare towns
Hope vs Levant vs Mapleton 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%).
Levant has the youngest population (median age 39.7).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Levant | Mapleton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748 |
3,069Highest |
1,884 |
1,656Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
39.7±2.2Lowest 11% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME |
| Dedham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 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%±1.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.1%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Hope and Dedham 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% |
21.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton 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 |
$86,071±$22kLowest 15% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
| Dedham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$268,500±$27k 9% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% 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 |
$1,370±$120 20% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
| Dedham and Levant 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 |
$2,580 15% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
45.7%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Levant 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% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% ME: 74.3% |
81.4% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1995Highest 18 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 19% below ME |
31 minHighest 27% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±5.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Mapleton 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 | — | #124 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Hope Public Schools | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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.