Compare towns
Lowell vs Mapleton vs Hope vs Castle Hill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Hope has the most expensive homes ($373k median).
Castle Hill has the most affordable homes ($145k 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.
| Measure | Lowell | Mapleton | Hope | Castle Hill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 378 |
1,884Highest |
1,748 |
281Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 55.5±8.6 24% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
57.8±15.8Highest 29% above ME |
| Castle Hill and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±5.8 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+ | 31.2%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
44.8%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±5.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $50,833±$31kLowest 32% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$54,250±$14k 27% 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 | $209,700±$30k 29% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$145,300±$18kLowest 51% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$950±$574 17% below ME |
| Hope and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,478 51% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,449Lowest 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
75%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Lowell and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 24% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
20 min 19% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±9.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Hope Public Schools | — |
| High school 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.