Compare towns

Hamlin 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%).
Van Buren has the most kids (16.7% under 18).

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.

MeasureHamlinVan Buren
People
Population
111Lowest
1,634Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-6.6%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
61.8±15.9Highest
38% above ME
56.4±3.3Lowest
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%
16.7%±4.9Highest
ME: 18.1%
Van Buren and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
40.5%±9.7Highest
ME: 22.4%
35.1%±8.7Lowest
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%Highest
ME: 36.2%
10.3%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±3.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.3Highest
ME: 5.8%
Van Buren and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$50,938±$7kHighest
32% below ME
$38,851±$4kLowest
48% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$200,000±$58kHighest
33% below ME
$97,900±$29kLowest
67% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$733±$141
36% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,339Highest
56% below ME
$1,335Lowest
56% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
100%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
40.7%±10.8Lowest
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%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
24.2%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.5%Highest
ME: 74.3%
61.7%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
6 yrs newer than ME
1956Lowest
21 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
15 minLowest
39% below ME
16 minHighest
34% below ME
Work from home
32%±47.2Highest
ME: 15.9%
8.9%±6.7Lowest
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
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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.