Compare towns
Hope vs Mapleton vs Jefferson vs Camden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Jefferson has the oldest population (median age 58).
Camden has the most expensive homes ($521k 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 | Mapleton | Jefferson | Camden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748 |
1,884 |
1,013Lowest |
5,242Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
52.2±6.5 34% above U.S. |
| Jefferson and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
38%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Camden and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Camden 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 7% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$82,344±$15k about the U.S. 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±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$296,700±$92k 11% below U.S. |
$520,600±$70kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$867±$156 39% below U.S. |
$1,269±$354Highest 10% below U.S. |
| Camden and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,842 23% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,196 35% above U.S. |
$5,832Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±15.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Camden 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Camden and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #11 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hope Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | RSU 28/MSAD 28 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.