Compare towns
Hope vs Madison 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Madison has the most renters (61.1% rent).
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 | Madison | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,748Lowest |
2,676Highest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
44.9±12.3Highest about the ME average |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Madison 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% |
11.6%±5.7Lowest 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% |
22.9%±7.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Union 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% |
18.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Union 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 |
$61,698±$20kLowest 17% 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 |
$163,900±$59kLowest 45% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$850±$218Lowest 25% below ME |
$1,179±$452 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 |
$1,740Lowest 43% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.5%±13.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Hope and Union 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% |
13%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 19% below ME |
31 minHighest 25% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Hope 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.