Compare towns
Hope vs Newcastle vs Appleton 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%).
Newcastle has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k 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 | Newcastle | Appleton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748 |
1,913Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,656 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
49.4±7Highest 10% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
| Newcastle and Appleton 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% |
17.8%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest 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% |
24.4%±1.4 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Newcastle 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% |
45.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Newcastle and Appleton 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 |
$89,868±$33k 20% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
| Dedham and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,400±$33k 26% above ME |
$398,000±$41kHighest 34% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
| Newcastle and Hope 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 |
$1,363±$81 20% above ME |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
| Dedham and Newcastle 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 |
$4,256Highest 40% above ME |
$3,588Lowest 18% above ME |
$3,942 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
5.8%±16.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% ME: 10.7% |
3.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 19% below ME |
17 minLowest 30% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
20.2%±4.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Newcastle 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 | — | Appleton Public Schools | Dedham Public Schools |
| High school 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 |
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.