Compare towns

Danforth vs Hampden vs Mattawamkeag

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
Mattawamkeag has the most renters (23.9% 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.

MeasureDanforthHampdenMattawamkeag
People
Population
666Lowest
7,896Highest
698
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.3%
ME: +2.6%
+6.2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-13.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
53.1±4.4Highest
19% above ME
41±2.9Lowest
8% below ME
51.4±3.8
15% above ME
Danforth and Mattawamkeag are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.4%±4.3Lowest
ME: 18.1%
25.8%±5.7Highest
ME: 18.1%
17.5%±9.1
ME: 18.1%
Hampden and Mattawamkeag are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.1%±3.7Highest
ME: 22.4%
17.2%±3.6Lowest
ME: 22.4%
20.1%±1.7
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
9%
ME: 36.2%
45.9%Highest
ME: 36.2%
6.5%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.7%±2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5.3%±2.3Highest
ME: 5.8%
1.7%±2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Hampden and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$48,125±$8k
36% below ME
$111,959±$13kHighest
50% above ME
$45,000±$16kLowest
40% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$89,900±$36kLowest
70% below ME
$301,300±$38kHighest
about the ME average
$104,200±$41k
65% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$629±$29
45% below ME
$1,286±$317Highest
13% above ME
$488±$190Lowest
57% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,270
58% below ME
$3,694Highest
22% above ME
$1,111Lowest
63% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.1%±57.5
ME: 48.4%
22.2%±15.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
42.7%±31.5Highest
ME: 48.4%
Mattawamkeag and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.9%
ME: 10.7%
7.5%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
33.2%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.6%
ME: 74.3%
85.7%Highest
ME: 74.3%
76.1%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
10 yrs newer than ME
1982
5 yrs newer than ME
1975Lowest
2 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
15% above ME
23 minLowest
7% below ME
42 minHighest
69% above ME
Work from home
5.8%±3.4
ME: 15.9%
21.3%±5.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
2.2%±3Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #6 of 133 in ME —
School district — RSU 22 —
High school in town — Hampden Academy —
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.8
—
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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.