Compare towns
Hope vs Wilton 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).
Wilton has the most affordable homes ($202k median).
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 | Wilton | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,748 |
3,862Highest |
1,360Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
46.1±6.6 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
| Appleton and Wilton 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% |
22.2%±5 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Wilton 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% |
27%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Wilton and Appleton 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% |
31.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Wilton and Appleton 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 |
$63,396±$23k 15% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
| Hope and Wilton 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 |
$202,000±$30kLowest 32% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$446±$274Lowest 61% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
| Hope and Appleton 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 |
$2,344Lowest 23% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
52.5%±31.1 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Wilton 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% |
14.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 19% below ME |
28 min 14% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.1%±7.3 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Wilton 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 | — | #121 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Hope Public Schools | RSU 09 | 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.