Compare towns
Union vs Beals 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 kids (24.9% under 18).
Beals has the oldest population (median age 48).
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.
| Measure | Union | Beals | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
498Lowest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
48±15.6Highest 7% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
| Beals 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% |
16.1%±6.5Lowest 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% |
30.1%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
37.6% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±5.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Beals 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 |
$64,063±$14kLowest 14% 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±$42k 10% below ME |
$256,700±$45kLowest 13% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$907±$378Lowest 20% 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 | $3,276 8% above ME |
$2,580Lowest 15% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Hope and Union 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% |
10.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
83.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 20% above ME |
21 min 17% below ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Beals Public Schools | Hope Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.