Compare towns
Hampden vs Mapleton vs Monroe vs South Berwick
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 most affordable homes ($192k median).
Monroe has the oldest population (median age 43.5).
South Berwick has the most expensive homes ($428k 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 | Monroe | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,896Highest |
1,884 |
1,001Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
+3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41±2.9 8% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
43.5±7Highest about the ME average |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
| Monroe and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.8%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Monroe and Mapleton 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% |
29.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$81,300±$7kLowest 9% above ME |
$99,572±$13k 33% above ME |
| Hampden and South Berwick 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
$428,300±$26kHighest 44% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$317 13% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,165±$152 about the ME average |
$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,694 22% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±15.1 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| South Berwick and Monroe 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
11.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
32 minHighest 28% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden and South Berwick 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 | — | — | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 22 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Hampden Academy | None in town | None in town | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | — | 13.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.