Compare towns
Hope vs Weld vs Appleton vs Camden
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 kids (23.3% under 18).
Weld has the oldest population (median age 64).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Camden has the most expensive homes ($521k 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 | Weld | Appleton | Camden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748 |
459Lowest |
1,360 |
5,242Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | +7.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
64±6.7Highest 43% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
52.2±6.5 17% above ME |
| Weld and Camden 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% |
17.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Camden 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% |
44.4%±12.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
38%±6.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Weld and Camden 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% |
42.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
62.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$62,083±$11k 17% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$82,344±$15k 10% above ME |
| Hope and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,400±$33k 26% above ME |
$268,600±$17k 9% below ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$520,600±$70kHighest 76% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182 7% above ME |
— | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,269±$354Highest 11% above ME |
| Camden and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,842 27% above ME |
$1,308Lowest 57% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$5,832Highest 92% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
39.9%±15.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Camden 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% |
6.5% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% ME: 74.3% |
93.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
73.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1970 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 19% below ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
22 min 11% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±8.4 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Camden and Hope 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 | — | — | — | #11 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hope Public Schools | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 28/MSAD 28 |
| 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.