Compare towns
Hope vs Lowell vs Union
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 most expensive homes ($373k median).
Lowell has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Lowell | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,748 |
378Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | +5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
55.5±8.6Highest 24% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Lowell 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% |
13.2%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31.2%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Union 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±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$50,833±$31kLowest 32% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Hope and Union 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 |
$209,700±$30kLowest 29% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
— | $1,179±$452Lowest 4% above ME |
| Hope and Union 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 |
$1,478Lowest 51% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Lowell 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% |
10.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.5% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 19% below ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Hope Public Schools | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.