Compare towns
Jefferson vs Mapleton vs Hope vs Whitefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most kids (28% under 18).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Whitefield has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Jefferson | Mapleton | Hope | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,647Highest |
1,884 |
1,748Lowest |
2,157 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
51.9±5.2Highest 16% above ME |
| Whitefield and Hope 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
17.6%±4.7Lowest 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%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
29.1%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,078±$17k 14% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$73,875±$10kLowest about the ME average |
| Mapleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$35k 5% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$242,300±$24k 18% below 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±$130 about the ME average |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$895±$126 21% below ME |
| Hope and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,587 15% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$2,366 22% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±22.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Hope and Whitefield 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% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
7.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Whitefield 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Hope Public Schools | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.