Compare towns
Hope vs Mapleton vs Waltham
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 the shortest commute (20 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
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 | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,748 |
1,884Highest |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest 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% |
45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,766±$6kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$97,500±$14kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Waltham 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±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$329,700±$51k about the U.S. average |
| Hope and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,096±$113 22% below U.S. |
| Hope and Waltham 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. |
$5,714Highest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±58.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hope and Waltham 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waltham 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 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.