Compare towns
Cherryfield vs Hampden vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cherryfield has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
Hampden has the highest household income ($112k).
Columbia has the most affordable homes ($159k 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 | Cherryfield | Hampden | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 809 |
7,896Highest |
529Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
41.9±6.4 6% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4% ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
9.1%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Columbia and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
$56,667±$15k 24% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,800±$53k 34% below ME |
$301,300±$38kHighest about the ME average |
$158,700±$19kLowest 46% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME |
$894±$162 22% below ME |
| Hampden and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,950 36% below ME |
$3,694Highest 22% above ME |
$1,226Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.5%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
61.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Columbia and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 22% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
31 minHighest 27% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±10.4 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
9%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden and Cherryfield 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 | Cherryfield Public Schools | RSU 22 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Hampden Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8 |
— |
| 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.