What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).

St. George has the oldest population (median age 58.3).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hope	St. George
People
Population	1,748Lowest	2,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6%	+0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average	58.3±9.8Highest 30% above ME
Kids under 18	23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1%	11.1%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	39.2%±8.6Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.4%Highest ME: 36.2%	46.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.1%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	St. George and Hope 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 16% above ME	$89,155±$10kHighest 19% above ME
	St. George and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME	$356,300±$79kLowest 20% above ME
	Hope and St. George are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,219±$182Lowest 7% above ME	$1,465±$293Highest 29% above ME
	St. George and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,842Highest 27% above ME	$3,359Lowest 11% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±38.7Highest ME: 48.4%	27.2%±35.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Hope and St. George 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%	7.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	86.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME	1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 19% below ME	25 minHighest about the ME average
Work from home	18.3%±10.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	20.1%±11.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	St. George 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	—	#46 of 133 in ME
School district	Hope Public Schools	St George Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.