Compare towns
Howland vs Hope vs Randolph
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Howland has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Randolph has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
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 | Howland | Hope | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,367Lowest |
1,748Highest |
1,610 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.6±10.2 6% above ME |
44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
| Randolph and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
12.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.8%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Randolph and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 12%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Howland and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,297±$21kLowest 34% below ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$66,574±$16k 11% below ME |
| Hope and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $150,100±$52kLowest 49% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$174,300±$21k 41% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$246Lowest 20% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$1,186±$207 4% above ME |
| Hope and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,546Lowest 49% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$2,160 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±18.2 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.3%±8.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Hope and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 7 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 26% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.3%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 31/MSAD 31 | Hope Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Penobscot Valley High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
— | — |
| 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.