Compare towns
Hampden vs Needham vs Orrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampden has the youngest population (median age 41).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Orrington has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
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 | Needham | Orrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,896 |
32,459Highest |
3,853Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
49.5±3.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25.8%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orrington and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$94,556±$10kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$309,000±$49k 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,167±$135Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,694 18% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.9%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #6 of 133 in ME | #19 of 282 in MA | #41 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 22 | — | Orrington Public Schools |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.