Compare towns
Hope vs Sumner vs Danforth vs Union
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 expensive homes ($373k median).
Sumner has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Sumner | Danforth | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748 |
845 |
452Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
— | +5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Sumner and Danforth 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% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Hope 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% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Union and Danforth 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 |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Hope and Union 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 |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
— | $629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Hope and Union 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 |
$2,167Lowest 29% below ME |
— | $3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner 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% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 19% below ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner 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 | RSU 10 | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.