Compare towns
Hope vs Waldo 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 expensive homes ($373k median).
Waldo has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
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 | Waldo | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,748Highest |
926Lowest |
1,360 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
| Appleton and Hope 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% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Waldo 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% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Hope 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% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton 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±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
| Hope and Waldo 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 |
$208,000±$41kLowest 30% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$1,150±$691 about the ME average |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
| Hope and Waldo 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 |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Waldo 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% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 19% below ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Hope Public Schools | Waldo-Region 7 | 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 |
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.