Compare towns
Mapleton vs Hope vs Palmyra vs Chapman
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).
Palmyra has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
Chapman has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Palmyra | Chapman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
1,748 |
2,209Highest |
388Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.1% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
37.1±4.8Lowest 17% below ME |
45.7±11.4Highest about the ME average |
| Chapman and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
29.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Palmyra and Chapman 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% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
16.7%±5.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman 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±$25k 23% above ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$60,543±$17kLowest 19% below ME |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
| Chapman 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±$23k 35% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$154,900±$34kLowest 48% below ME |
$185,700±$22k 37% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$733±$119 36% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789 41% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,614Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,850 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
47.2%±14.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Palmyra and Hope 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% |
9.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Mapleton 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.