Compare towns
Industry vs Hope vs Starks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Industry has the youngest population (median age 40.6).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k 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 | Industry | Hope | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 988 |
1,748Highest |
556Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -15.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.6±10.7Lowest 9% below ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
46.7±9.4Highest 4% above ME |
| Starks and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Industry and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Industry and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Hope and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,056±$19kLowest 16% below ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $205,600±$31k 31% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,049±$137Lowest 8% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$1,063±$301 7% below ME |
| Hope and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,793 41% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.9%±38.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Industry and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 67% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
33 min 33% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Hope Public Schools | — |
| High school 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.