Compare towns
Hampden vs Mapleton vs Knox
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%).
Mapleton has the oldest population (median age 41.8).
Knox has the most affordable homes ($160k 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 | Mapleton | Knox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,896Highest |
1,884 |
825Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
41.8±6Highest 7% below ME |
41.1±7.9 8% below ME |
| Mapleton and Knox 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Mapleton and Knox 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and Mapleton 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 |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$64,821±$9kLowest 13% below ME |
| Hampden and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,300±$38kHighest about the ME average |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$159,600±$26kLowest 46% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$317 13% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
| Knox 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 |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,610Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±15.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
11.3%±31.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Hampden and Mapleton 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% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±7.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden and Knox 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 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| 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 | 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.