Compare towns
Union vs Durham 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).
Durham has the highest household income ($99k).
Hope has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Durham | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663 |
4,262Highest |
1,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
44.6±3.1Highest about the ME average |
| Hope and Durham 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% |
19.7%±4.6Lowest 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%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Union and Hope 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% |
34.8% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Durham 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±$9kLowest 8% above ME |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42kLowest 10% below ME |
$322,200±$34k 9% above ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
| Hope and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452Lowest 4% above 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 |
$3,781 25% above ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Hope and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
92.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 20% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Durham 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 | — | #14 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 05 | 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.