Compare towns
Hope vs Lovell vs Mapleton vs Mount Vernon
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%).
Lovell has the oldest population (median age 52.2).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Mount Vernon has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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 | Lovell | Mapleton | Mount Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748 |
1,353Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,716 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
52.2±3.5Highest 17% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
47.1±6.2 5% above ME |
| Lovell and Mount Vernon 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% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.2 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% |
26.5%±3.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.5%±1.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
36.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
42.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
6.3%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lovell 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 |
$80,625±$20k 8% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$74,395±$6kLowest about the ME average |
| 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 |
$295,000±$47k about the ME average |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$264,200±$23k 11% below ME |
| Hope and Lovell 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 |
$1,419±$178Highest 25% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$893±$168 22% below ME |
| Lovell and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,480Lowest 51% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,832 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
45.3%±29.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
26.9%±36.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Lovell and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% ME: 10.7% |
10%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 19% below ME |
31 min 28% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
21.8%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
28.3%±11.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Mount Vernon and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Hope Public Schools | RSU 72/MSAD 72 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 38 |
| 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.