Compare towns
Hope vs Limestone vs Mapleton
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%).
Limestone has the most affordable homes ($98k median).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
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 | Limestone | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,748 |
1,579Lowest |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-34.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
45.3±4.9Highest about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Limestone 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% |
20.7%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Limestone 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
9.5%±4.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Limestone and Mapleton 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 |
$49,938±$8kLowest 33% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| 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 26% above ME |
$98,400±$18kLowest 67% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$754±$233 34% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,332Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
32%±12.4 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Hope and Limestone 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% |
16.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 19% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Hope Public Schools | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.