Compare towns
Stetson vs Hope vs Prospect
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stetson has the youngest population (median age 42.2).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Prospect has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
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 | Stetson | Hope | Prospect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,151 |
1,748Highest |
923Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.2±5.1Lowest 6% below ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
45.2±7.5Highest about the ME average |
| Prospect and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
25.2%±10.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Prospect and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Hope and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Stetson and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,023±$28kLowest about the ME average |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$81,250±$17k 9% above ME |
| Hope and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $205,700±$34k 31% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$196,500±$19kLowest 34% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $800±$377Lowest 30% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$1,107±$61 about the ME average |
| Hope and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,962Lowest 35% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,979 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.7%±42Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±42Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Stetson and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993 16 yrs newer than ME |
1991Lowest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 29% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
33 minHighest 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 11%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Hope Public Schools | — |
| High school 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.