Compare towns
Hope vs Lyman vs Ogunquit vs Appleton
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 kids (23.3% under 18).
Lyman has the most homeowners (95%).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k 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 | Lyman | Ogunquit | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748 |
4,612Highest |
1,379 |
1,360Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5% ME: +2.6% |
+4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
53.8±2 20% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Appleton 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% |
26.1%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4% ME: 36.2% |
25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit and Appleton 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 |
$87,284±$14k 17% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,400±$33k 26% above ME |
$360,400±$44k 22% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$1,063±$522Lowest 7% below ME |
— | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
| Hope and Appleton 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 |
$2,717Lowest 11% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton 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% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% ME: 74.3% |
95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
94.3% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 19% below ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #40 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Hope Public Schools | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | — | Appleton Public Schools |
| 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 | 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.