What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).

Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hampden	Harpswell
People
Population	7,896Highest	5,046Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	+6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME	62±1.5Highest 38% above ME
Kids under 18	25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%	8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	52.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%	1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Hampden and Harpswell 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	$96,250±$15kLowest 29% above ME
	Hampden and Harpswell 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	$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Lowest 13% above ME	$1,348±$53Highest 18% above ME
	Harpswell and Hampden 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	$3,141Lowest 3% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	24.9%±5.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Harpswell 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%	5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 7% below ME	30 minHighest 20% above ME
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%	20.7%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Hampden and Harpswell 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	—
School district	RSU 22	RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town	Hampden Academy	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8	—
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.