Compare towns

Union vs Bath vs Hope

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Union has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Bath has the most renters (35.7% rent).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).

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.

MeasureUnionBathHope
People
Population
2,663
8,815Highest
1,748Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.5%
ME: +2.6%
+3%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+10.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
41.6±5.3Lowest
7% below ME
45.4±3Highest
about the ME average
44.6±3.1
about the ME average
Bath and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24.9%±4Highest
ME: 18.1%
15.5%±3.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
23.3%±5.4
ME: 18.1%
Union and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±3.1
ME: 22.4%
25.2%±4.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
21.1%±1.3Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Bath and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.4%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
42.5%
ME: 36.2%
47.4%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.5
ME: 5.8%
5.5%±2Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Bath and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,724±$9k
8% above ME
$69,390±$12kLowest
7% below ME
$86,766±$6kHighest
16% above ME
Hope and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$267,600±$42kLowest
10% below ME
$310,900±$30k
5% above ME
$373,400±$33kHighest
26% above ME
Hope and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,179±$452
4% above ME
$1,044±$116Lowest
8% below ME
$1,219±$182Highest
7% above ME
Hope and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,276Lowest
8% above ME
$3,847Highest
27% above ME
$3,842
27% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
24.6%±19.8Lowest
ME: 48.4%
51.3%±15.2Highest
ME: 48.4%
37.8%±38.7
ME: 48.4%
Bath and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.2%
ME: 10.7%
12.4%Highest
ME: 10.7%
5.3%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
ME: 74.3%
64.3%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
92.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
2 yrs newer than ME
1938Lowest
39 yrs older than ME
1991Highest
14 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
20% above ME
24 min
about the ME average
20 minLowest
19% below ME
Work from home
15.9%±5.3Lowest
ME: 15.9%
19.3%±6Highest
ME: 15.9%
18.3%±10.2
ME: 15.9%
Bath and Hope 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 — #31 of 133 in ME —
School district RSU 40/MSAD 40 RSU 01 - LKRSU Hope Public Schools
High school in town None in town Morse High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.8
—
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.