Compare towns
Union vs Upton vs Washington 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 renters (14.1% rent).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 70.4).
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 | Upton | Washington | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
91Lowest |
1,624 |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
— | +4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
70.4±0.4Highest 57% above ME |
48.2±6.7 8% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
0%±34.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±4 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% |
80.2%±49.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4% ME: 36.2% |
14.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
17.3% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±12.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Union and Washington 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 |
— | $59,861±$17kLowest 20% 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 |
— | $195,200±$36kLowest 34% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 4% above ME |
— | $1,036±$322Lowest 9% 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 |
$731Lowest 76% below ME |
$2,286 25% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Washington 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% |
0%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
92.5% ME: 74.3% |
92.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
24 min about the ME average |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
13%±12Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9 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 | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | 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.