Compare towns
Hope vs Mapleton vs Wakefield 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).
Wakefield has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Wakefield | Camden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748Lowest |
1,884 |
5,405Highest |
5,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% 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. |
49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
52.2±6.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Camden and Wakefield 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% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5.6Lowest 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% |
18.8%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
38%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest 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±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$82,344±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Wakefield and Mapleton 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. |
$322,800±$43k about the U.S. average |
$520,600±$70kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,269±$354 10% below U.S. |
| Wakefield and Camden 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. |
$2,954 5% below 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%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest 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. |
1980 same as 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. |
36 minHighest 35% 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% |
15.1%±9.3 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 | — | — | #118 of 120 in NH | #11 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hope Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Wakefield School District | RSU 28/MSAD 28 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.