Compare towns
Hope vs Mapleton vs Rumford
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%).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Rumford has the most affordable homes ($128k 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 | Rumford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,748Lowest |
1,884 |
5,942Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
50.4±3.4Highest 13% above ME |
| Rumford and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.4Lowest 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.2%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
18.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Rumford 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$38,403±$6kLowest 49% below ME |
| 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 |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$127,700±$21kLowest 57% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$803±$81 29% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,988 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
59.1%±11.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Rumford 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
22.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
63.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1947Lowest 30 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 19% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Mapleton 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 | — | — | #126 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hope Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mountain Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.