What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).

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.

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

Measure	Hope	Wayne
People
Population	1,748Highest	1,101Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6%	-5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average	55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME
Kids under 18	23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1%	13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	48.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,766±$6kLowest 16% above ME	$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME
	Wayne 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	$362,800±$29kLowest 22% above ME
	Hope and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME	$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME
	Hope and Wayne 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	$3,289Lowest 8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±38.7Highest ME: 48.4%	25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Hope and Wayne 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%	7.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	89.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 19% below ME	30 minHighest 24% above ME
Work from home	18.3%±10.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Wayne 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 38
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.