Compare towns
Hope vs Waldoboro vs Appleton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Waldoboro has the most renters (21.4% rent).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k 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 | Waldoboro | Appleton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748 |
5,253Highest |
1,360Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
50.1±4.6Highest 12% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Waldoboro and Appleton 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% |
15.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest 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% |
22.6%±5.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Waldoboro 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% |
29.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Union 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 |
$69,107±$8k 8% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% 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 |
$274,900±$39k 7% below ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$348±$153Lowest 69% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% 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 |
$2,861Lowest 6% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
20%±15.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton 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% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 19% below ME |
25 min 3% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Union 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 | — | #55 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Hope Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Medomak Valley High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.