Compare towns
Hamlin vs Chapman vs Van Buren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamlin has the most people working from home (32%).
Chapman has the highest household income ($93k).
Van Buren has the most affordable homes ($98k 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 | Hamlin | Chapman | Van Buren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 111Lowest |
388 |
1,634Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -6.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 61.8±15.9Highest 38% above ME |
45.7±11.4Lowest about the ME average |
56.4±3.3 26% above ME |
| Hamlin and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 7.2%±17.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±4.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 40.5%±9.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
35.1%±8.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Hamlin and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.2% ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
10.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±3.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $50,938±$7k 32% below ME |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$38,851±$4kLowest 48% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $200,000±$58kHighest 33% below ME |
$185,700±$22k 37% below ME |
$97,900±$29kLowest 67% below ME |
| Hamlin and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $733±$141 36% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,339 56% below ME |
$1,850Highest 39% below ME |
$1,335Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.7%±10.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Hamlin and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.1% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
24.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.5% ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
61.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1956Lowest 21 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 39% below ME |
23 minHighest 6% below ME |
16 min 34% below ME |
| Work from home | 32%±47.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Hamlin and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.