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 (15.6% 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.
| Measure | Hamlin | Van Buren |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 111Lowest |
1,858Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 61.8±15.9Highest 38% above ME |
56±3.2Lowest 25% 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% |
15.6%±4.4Highest 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% |
35.3%±7.8Lowest 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% |
10.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±3.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.1Highest 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 |
$40,170±$4kLowest 46% below ME |
| Hamlin and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $200,000±$58kHighest 33% below ME |
$97,700±$24kLowest 67% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $733±$141 36% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,339Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,415Highest 53% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.7%±11Lowest 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% |
23%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
64.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minHighest 39% below ME |
15 minLowest 40% below ME |
| Work from home | 32%±47.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.3%±5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hamlin and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Schools | ||
| School district | — | RSU 88/MSAD 24 |
| High school in town | — | Van Buren District Secondary Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | 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.