Compare towns
Hampden vs Harrison 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
Harrison has the most affordable homes ($249k median).
Orrington has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Harrison | Orrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,896Highest |
2,513Lowest |
3,853 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
56±3.6Highest 25% above ME |
49.5±3.3 10% above ME |
| Harrison and Orrington 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% |
9.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Orrington 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% |
29.8%±7.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.8%±5.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Harrison and Orrington 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% |
30.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and Orrington 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 |
$56,938±$6kLowest 24% below ME |
$94,556±$10k 27% above ME |
| Hampden and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,300±$38k about the ME average |
$249,300±$70kLowest 16% below ME |
$309,000±$49kHighest 4% above ME |
| Orrington and Hampden 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 |
$885±$193Lowest 22% below ME |
$1,167±$135 about the ME average |
| Hampden and Orrington 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 |
$2,731Lowest 10% below ME |
$2,823 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±15.1 ME: 48.4% |
27.5%±24.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.9%±20.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Harrison and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
22.3%±9.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5.3Lowest 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 | — | #41 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 22 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | Orrington Public Schools |
| 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.