Compare towns
Mexico vs Hope vs Anson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mexico has the most affordable homes ($111k median).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Anson has the oldest population (median age 46.7).
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 | Mexico | Hope | Anson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,782Highest |
1,748Lowest |
2,331 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.8Lowest 3% below ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
46.7±6.2Highest 4% above ME |
| Anson and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±4 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Hope and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Mexico and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,727±$9k 25% below ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $110,800±$10kLowest 63% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$117,800±$14k 60% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$275 10% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$928±$62Lowest 19% below ME |
| Hope and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,961 35% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Mexico and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1972 5 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the ME average |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Mexico 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 | #130 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Rumford-Region 9 · RSU 10 | Hope Public Schools | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Carrabec High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6 |
| 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.