What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jefferson has the most kids (28% under 18).

Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Jefferson	Hope
People
Population	2,647Highest	1,748Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME	44.6±3.1Highest about the ME average
	Hope and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%	23.3%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Jefferson and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4%	21.1%±1.3Highest ME: 22.4%
	Hope and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	47.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8%	2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Jefferson and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,078±$17kLowest 14% above ME	$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME
	Hope and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$311,600±$35kLowest 5% above ME	$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME
	Hope and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,120±$130Lowest about the ME average	$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME
	Hope and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,587Lowest 15% below ME	$3,842Highest 27% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.8%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	37.8%±38.7Highest ME: 48.4%
	Hope and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	5.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	92.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME	1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 23% above ME	20 minLowest 19% below ME
Work from home	8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9%
	Hope and Jefferson 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	#45 of 133 in ME	—
School district	Jefferson Public Schools	Hope Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.