Compare towns
Brooks vs Hampden vs Mars Hill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooks has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
Mars Hill has the most affordable homes ($164k 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 | Brooks | Hampden | Mars Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208Lowest |
7,896Highest |
1,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% ME: +2.6% |
+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6Highest about the ME average |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
43.4±3 3% below ME |
| Brooks and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Mars Hill and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5% ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
$65,273±$9k 13% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33k 34% below ME |
$301,300±$38kHighest about the ME average |
$163,600±$23kLowest 45% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112 about the ME average |
$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME |
$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
| Hampden and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096 31% below ME |
$3,694Highest 22% above ME |
$1,843Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1 ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Mars Hill and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest about the ME average |
23 min 7% below ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden and Brooks 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 | — | #6 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 22 | RSU 42/MSAD 42 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hampden Academy | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8Highest |
8.0Lowest |
| 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.