Compare towns

Mapleton vs Minot vs Hope vs Washburn

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).
Minot has the highest household income ($96k).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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.

MeasureMapletonMinotHopeWashburn
People
Population
1,884
2,794Highest
1,748
1,355Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%
ME: +2.6%
+6.1%
ME: +2.6%
+10.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-9.5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
41.8±6Lowest
7% below ME
49±6.1Highest
9% above ME
44.6±3.1
about the ME average
48.2±7.7
8% above ME
Minot and Washburn 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%
16.4%±4.4Lowest
ME: 18.1%
23.3%±5.4Highest
ME: 18.1%
21.7%±3.5
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%
21.3%±4.2
ME: 22.4%
21.1%±1.3
ME: 22.4%
24%±3.7Highest
ME: 22.4%
Washburn and Minot 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%
25.9%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
47.4%Highest
ME: 36.2%
26%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.9
ME: 5.8%
5.1%±2.2Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.6%±1.4
ME: 5.8%
Minot 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
$95,655±$17kHighest
28% above ME
$86,766±$6k
16% above ME
$56,196±$6kLowest
25% below ME
Minot 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
$294,900±$26k
about the ME average
$373,400±$33kHighest
26% above ME
$112,900±$14kLowest
62% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$610±$277
46% below ME
$878±$801
23% below ME
$1,219±$182Highest
7% above ME
$482±$62Lowest
58% below ME
Hope and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,789
41% below ME
$2,602
14% below ME
$3,842Highest
27% above ME
$1,571Lowest
48% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.7%±10.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
35.7%±40.7
ME: 48.4%
37.8%±38.7Highest
ME: 48.4%
33.3%±24.7
ME: 48.4%
Hope and Minot 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%
6.2%
ME: 10.7%
5.3%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
12.7%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%
ME: 74.3%
96%Highest
ME: 74.3%
92.9%
ME: 74.3%
78.2%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
same as ME
1994Highest
17 yrs newer than ME
1991
14 yrs newer than ME
1969Lowest
8 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
13% above ME
25 min
about the ME average
20 minLowest
19% below ME
21 min
15% below ME
Work from home
10.8%±3.8
ME: 15.9%
16.8%±5.7
ME: 15.9%
18.3%±10.2Highest
ME: 15.9%
9.7%±3.9Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Hope and Minot 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 — #78 of 133 in ME — —
School district RSU 79/MSAD 01 RSU 16 Hope Public Schools RSU 45/MSAD 45
High school in town None in town None in town None in town Washburn District High School
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
12.0
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.