Compare towns
Hampden vs Gorham vs Orrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Orrington has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
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 | Hampden | Gorham | Orrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,896 |
18,300Highest |
3,853Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41±2.9 8% below ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
49.5±3.3Highest 10% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
23.8%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Orrington and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,959±$13k 50% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$94,556±$10kLowest 27% above ME |
| Gorham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$309,000±$49k 4% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$317 13% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,167±$135Lowest about the ME average |
| Gorham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,694 22% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$2,823Lowest 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±15.1 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.9%±20.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Gorham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden and Gorham 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #41 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 22 | Gorham Public Schools | Orrington Public Schools |
| High school in town | Hampden Academy | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.9Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.