Compare towns
Limestone vs Mapleton vs Hope vs Caribou
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Limestone has the most affordable homes ($98k median).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Caribou has the shortest commute (15 min average).
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 | Limestone | Mapleton | Hope | Caribou |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,579Lowest |
1,884 |
1,748 |
7,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -34.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.9 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
51.3±1.7Highest 15% above ME |
| Caribou and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
27.3%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Caribou and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.5%±4.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Limestone and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $49,938±$8kLowest 33% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$53,709±$9k 28% below ME |
| Mapleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $98,400±$18kLowest 67% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$134,100±$31k 55% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $754±$233 34% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$757±$143 34% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,332Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,680 45% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±12.4 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
45.3%±10.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Caribou and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1960 17 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 24% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
20 min 19% below ME |
15 minLowest 40% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.5%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Limestone 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 | — | — | — | #59 of 133 in ME |
| School district | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Hope Public Schools | RSU 39 |
| High school in town | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics | None in town | None in town | Caribou High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
— | — | 14.2Highest |
| 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.