What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the most people working from home (21.3%).

North Berwick has the most expensive homes ($429k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hampden	North Berwick
People
Population	7,896Highest	5,129Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME	41.6±4.7Highest 7% below ME
	North Berwick 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%	21.2%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Hampden and North Berwick 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%	20.9%±5Highest ME: 22.4%
	North Berwick 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%	29%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%	4.7%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Hampden and North Berwick 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	$101,875±$16kLowest 36% above ME
	Hampden and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average	$428,500±$33kHighest 44% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME	$1,105±$116Lowest about the ME average
	Hampden and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Lowest 22% above ME	$3,735Highest 23% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	66.2%±28.7Highest ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest ME: 10.7%	4.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%	88.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 7% below ME	31 minHighest 27% above ME
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%	15%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Hampden and North 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	#82 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 22	RSU 60/MSAD 60
High school in town	Hampden Academy	Noble High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	12.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.