Compare towns

Jackson vs Hope vs Monroe

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jackson has the youngest population (median age 37.7).
Hope has the most expensive homes ($373k median).
Monroe has the most affordable homes ($220k 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.

MeasureJacksonHopeMonroe
People
Population
567Lowest
1,748Highest
1,001
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.3%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+10.5%
ME: +2.6%
+4.6%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
37.7±5.8Lowest
16% below ME
44.6±3.1Highest
about the ME average
43.5±7
about the ME average
Hope and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.1%±4.3Lowest
ME: 18.1%
23.3%±5.4
ME: 18.1%
23.7%±5.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
Monroe and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.5%±4.7Lowest
ME: 22.4%
21.1%±1.3
ME: 22.4%
22.6%±4.5Highest
ME: 22.4%
Monroe and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.9%
ME: 36.2%
47.4%Highest
ME: 36.2%
29.1%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±1.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
2.1%±1.3
ME: 5.8%
5.3%±4.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
Monroe and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$75,167±$19kLowest
about the ME average
$86,766±$6kHighest
16% above ME
$81,300±$7k
9% above ME
Hope and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$231,500±$16k
22% below ME
$373,400±$33kHighest
26% above ME
$220,300±$57kLowest
26% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$629±$12Lowest
45% below ME
$1,219±$182Highest
7% above ME
$1,165±$152
about the ME average
Hope and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,651
13% below ME
$3,842Highest
27% above ME
$2,207Lowest
27% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
6.3%±60.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
37.8%±38.7
ME: 48.4%
50.9%±47.8Highest
ME: 48.4%
Monroe and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.8%Highest
ME: 10.7%
5.3%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
11.3%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
92.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
87.4%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
16 yrs newer than ME
1991Lowest
14 yrs newer than ME
1992
15 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
41% above ME
20 minLowest
19% below ME
32 min
28% above ME
Work from home
15.3%±6.5
ME: 15.9%
18.3%±10.2Highest
ME: 15.9%
11.8%±4.4Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Hope and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Hope Public Schools RSU 03/MSAD 03
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.