Compare towns
Hampden vs Mapleton vs Waldo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampden has the most expensive homes ($301k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 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 | Mapleton | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,896Highest |
1,884 |
926Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41±2.9 8% below ME |
41.8±6Highest 7% below ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Mapleton and Hampden 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% |
20.2%±4.5Lowest 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%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Mapleton and Hampden 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Lowest 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 |
$71,458±$21kLowest 4% 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±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,150±$691 about the ME average |
| Hampden and Waldo 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 |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±15.1 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden and Waldo 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 | Waldo-Region 7 |
| 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.