Compare towns
Washburn vs Hope vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k median).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
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 | Washburn | Hope | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,355Lowest |
1,748 |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±7.7Highest 8% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Washburn and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Washburn and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,196±$6kLowest 25% below ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,571Lowest 48% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±24.7 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Hope and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 15% below ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 45/MSAD 45 | Hope Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | Washburn District High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0 |
— | — |
| 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.