Compare towns
Hope vs Peru vs Camden
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%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
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 | Peru | Camden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,748 |
1,501Lowest |
5,242Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
52.2±6.5Highest 17% above ME |
| Camden and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
38%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4% ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
62.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Camden and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$66,827±$19kLowest 11% below ME |
$82,344±$15k 10% above ME |
| Hope and Camden 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 |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$520,600±$70kHighest 76% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182 7% above ME |
$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
$1,269±$354Highest 11% above ME |
| Camden 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 |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$5,832Highest 92% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
39.9%±15.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| 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 ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
73.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 19% below ME |
29 minHighest 18% above ME |
22 min 11% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | — | — | #11 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hope Public Schools | RSU 56 | RSU 28/MSAD 28 |
| 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 |
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.