Compare towns
Wilton vs Hope vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilton has the most renters (20.2% rent).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
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 | Wilton | Hope | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,862 |
1,748Lowest |
4,657Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.1±6.6Highest about the ME average |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
| Wilton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wilton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.5% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,396±$23kLowest 15% below ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
| Hope and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $202,000±$30k 32% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $446±$274Lowest 61% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$759±$141 33% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,344 23% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$2,245Lowest 26% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±31.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Wilton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 14% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
21 min 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 13.1%±7.3 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Wilton 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 | #121 of 133 in ME | — | #86 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 09 | Hope Public Schools | RSU 73 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Spruce Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
| 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.