Compare towns
Hope vs Mars Hill vs Dedham
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%).
Mars Hill has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Dedham has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Mars Hill | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,748Highest |
1,398Lowest |
1,656 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
43.4±3Lowest 3% below ME |
46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME |
| Dedham 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% |
22.9%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Hope 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% |
24.5%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Mars Hill and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4% ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Mars Hill and Dedham 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 |
$65,273±$9kLowest 13% below ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$163,600±$23kLowest 45% below ME |
$356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
| Hope and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182 7% above ME |
$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
| Dedham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,842 27% above ME |
$1,843Lowest 39% below ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Hope and Mars Hill 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% |
9.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 19% below ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Hope Public Schools | RSU 42/MSAD 42 | Dedham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.0 |
— |
| 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.