For our 2020 Best Places to Live feature, we asked some of the Down East staff and contributors what makes their town great. Here’s what editor in chief Brian Kevin had to say.
What I Love
All the perks of the Camden Hills (and, when my kids get older, the top-rated Camden Hills Regional High School), with way more affordable homes than in neighboring Camden. It’s five minutes from my driveway to the Bald, Ragged, and Hatchet mountain trailheads, as well as to the rental rack on Megunticook Lake where I stow my kayak.
What I Miss
Sidewalks. Hope is decidedly rural, and I wish my 6-year-old had some pavement to ride his bike on. On the plus side, he’s learning to cross-country ski on the wooded trails literally out our back door.
Where to Find Me
Hope doesn’t have much for hangouts, but I like meeting friends for brunch or beers at Barrettstown Farmhouse, an upscale-pubby restaurant in a post-and-beam barn. The 188-year-old Hope General Store is the place to grab necessities — milk, toilet paper, a cup of joe — and a few luxuries, like a pint of Ben & Jerry’s or a bottle of wine.
| Population | 1,522 |
| Median age | 44 |
| Median household income | $56,563 |
| Families living below the poverty line | 10% |
| Walk Score | 10/100 |
| GreatSchools rating average | not rated |
See the rest of this year’s Best Places to Live in Maine!
