Compare towns
Mapleton vs Hope vs Limestone
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 youngest population (median age 41.8).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Limestone has the most affordable homes ($98k 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 | Mapleton | Hope | Limestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,884Highest |
1,748 |
1,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-34.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
45.3±4.9Highest about the ME average |
| Limestone and Hope 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% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±4.8Lowest 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%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Limestone and Hope 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% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
9.5%±4.7Highest 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 | $91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$49,938±$8kLowest 33% 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 | $191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$98,400±$18kLowest 67% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$754±$233 34% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789 41% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,332Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
32%±12.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Hope and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% above ME |
20 min 19% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Limestone 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 | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.6 |
| 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.