Compare towns
Washington vs Hope vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the oldest population (median age 48.2).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Strong has the most renters (15.4% rent).
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 | Washington | Hope | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624 |
1,748Highest |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
| Washington and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Strong and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Washington and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,861±$17k 20% below ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,200±$36k 34% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,036±$322 9% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
| Hope and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,286 25% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±62.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest 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 | 15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 30% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.6%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Hope Public Schools | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.