Compare towns
Liberty vs Hope vs Appleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Liberty has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
Hope has the most expensive homes ($373k median).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
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 | Liberty | Hope | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 969Lowest |
1,748Highest |
1,360 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.5±6.8Lowest 10% below ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
| Appleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.8 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.4% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,146±$15k 5% below ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
| Hope and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,600±$31kLowest 23% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
| Hope and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,434Lowest 20% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 56% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.4%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Hope Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.