Compare towns
Warren vs Appleton vs Hope vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warren has the most renters (18.7% rent).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Warren | Appleton | Hope | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,748 |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest 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+ | 12%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 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+ | 21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Warren and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,616±$21k about the ME average |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% 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 | $232,700±$32kLowest 22% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$456 about the ME average |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% 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 | $2,832Lowest 7% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.1%±29.8 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 8% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.6%±9.3 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Union 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 | #120 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Appleton Public Schools | Hope Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.