Compare towns
Hampden vs Hancock vs Harrison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
Hancock has the most renters (18.9% rent).
Harrison has the most affordable homes ($249k 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 | Hampden | Hancock | Harrison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,896Highest |
2,518 |
2,513Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3% ME: +2.6% |
-10.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
56.3±6.4Highest 26% above ME |
56±3.6 25% above ME |
| Hancock and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
9.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.2%±7Highest ME: 22.4% |
29.8%±7.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Hancock and Harrison 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% |
34.9% ME: 36.2% |
30.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
$72,285±$5k 3% below ME |
$56,938±$6kLowest 24% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,300±$38kHighest about the ME average |
$276,800±$51k 7% below ME |
$249,300±$70kLowest 16% below ME |
| Hampden and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME |
$1,171±$65 about the ME average |
$885±$193Lowest 22% below ME |
| Hampden and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,694Highest 22% above ME |
$1,869Lowest 38% below ME |
$2,731 10% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42%±15.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.5%±24.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Hancock and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.2% ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% ME: 74.3% |
81.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.3%±9.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Harrison and Hampden 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 | #117 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 22 | Hancock Public Schools | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| High school in town | Hampden Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
— | — |
| 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.