Compare towns
Hampden vs Ogunquit vs Needham vs South Berwick
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 most affordable homes ($301k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
South Berwick has the most renters (21.7% rent).
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 | Ogunquit | Needham | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,896 |
1,379Lowest |
32,459Highest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 25.8%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S. |
— | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Needham 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 22 | — | Needham | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Hampden Academy | — | Needham High | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
13.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.