Compare towns

Mapleton vs Arundel vs Hope

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 affordable homes ($192k median).
Arundel has the most expensive homes ($421k median).
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.

MeasureMapletonArundelHope
People
Population
1,884
4,418Highest
1,748Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+6%
ME: +2.6%
+10.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
41.8±6
7% below ME
40.9±6.4Lowest
9% below ME
44.6±3.1Highest
about the ME average
Hope and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.2%±5.1
ME: 18.1%
20.4%±5.6Lowest
ME: 18.1%
23.3%±5.4Highest
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+
18.3%±3.1
ME: 22.4%
15.9%±3.4Lowest
ME: 22.4%
21.1%±1.3Highest
ME: 22.4%
Hope and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.3%
ME: 36.2%
29.4%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
47.4%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
3.5%±2.4
ME: 5.8%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Mapleton and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,731±$25k
23% above ME
$101,597±$17kHighest
36% above ME
$86,766±$6kLowest
16% above ME
Arundel and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$191,800±$23kLowest
35% below ME
$421,300±$62kHighest
42% above ME
$373,400±$33k
26% above ME
Arundel and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$610±$277Lowest
46% below ME
$1,607±$495Highest
41% above ME
$1,219±$182
7% above ME
Arundel and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,789Lowest
41% below ME
$3,763
24% above ME
$3,842Highest
27% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.7%±10.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
34.2%±22.7
ME: 48.4%
37.8%±38.7Highest
ME: 48.4%
Hope and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%Highest
ME: 10.7%
5.9%
ME: 10.7%
5.3%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
82.2%
ME: 74.3%
92.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
same as ME
1992Highest
15 yrs newer than ME
1991
14 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
13% above ME
23 min
7% below ME
20 minLowest
19% below ME
Work from home
10.8%±3.8
ME: 15.9%
7%±3.2Lowest
ME: 15.9%
18.3%±10.2Highest
ME: 15.9%
Hope and Mapleton 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 — #7 of 133 in ME —
School district RSU 79/MSAD 01 RSU 21 Hope 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.