Compare towns
Hope vs Ogunquit vs Saco vs Appleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hope has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k 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 | Ogunquit | Saco | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748 |
1,379 |
20,819Highest |
1,360Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Saco 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Appleton 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% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Saco and Ogunquit 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Saco 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182 7% above ME |
— | $1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
| Saco 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 |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$3,588Lowest 18% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Saco 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 19% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #38 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Hope Public Schools | — | Saco Public Schools | Appleton 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.