Compare towns
Union vs Lake Arrowhead vs Appleton 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Lake Arrowhead has the youngest population (median age 33).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
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 | Lake Arrowhead | Appleton | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
3,322Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
33±2.4Lowest 26% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4 ME: 18.1% |
26.9%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Lake Arrowhead and Union 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% |
7.6%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton 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% ME: 36.2% |
26.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lake Arrowhead and Appleton 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 |
$98,654±$9kHighest 32% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
| Lake Arrowhead and Hope 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 |
$267,300±$19k 10% below ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$2,288±$327Highest 101% above ME |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,219±$182 7% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276 8% above ME |
$2,286Lowest 25% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
0%±36.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Hope 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% |
2.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
93.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1995Highest 18 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
39 minHighest 57% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — | Appleton 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 | 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.