Compare towns
Hope vs Wayne vs Mount Vernon
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%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Mount Vernon has the most affordable homes ($264k median).
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 | Wayne | Mount Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,748Highest |
1,101Lowest |
1,716 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
47.1±6.2 5% above ME |
| Wayne and Mount Vernon 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% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Mount Vernon 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% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.5%±1.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
42.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$74,395±$6kLowest about the ME average |
| 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±$29k 22% above ME |
$264,200±$23kLowest 11% below 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±$554 14% below ME |
$893±$168Lowest 22% 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 |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$2,832Lowest 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
26.9%±36.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Hope and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
89.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 19% below ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7 ME: 15.9% |
28.3%±11.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Mount Vernon and Wayne 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 | RSU 38 |
| 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.