Compare towns

Hampden vs Ogunquit vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
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.

MeasureHampdenOgunquitReadingSouth Berwick
People
Population
7,896Highest
1,379
699Lowest
7,670
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41±2.9
5% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
51.1±7.6
31% above U.S.
39±2.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Ogunquit and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25.8%±5.7
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
15.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Hampden and Ogunquit 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±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$85,000±$19kLowest
5% above U.S.
$99,572±$13k
23% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$301,300±$38kLowest
9% below U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$377,200±$72k
13% above U.S.
$428,300±$26k
29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,286±$317
9% below U.S.
—
$1,100±$331Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,726±$83Highest
22% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,694Lowest
18% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$5,754Highest
84% 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%
63.3%±31.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.5%±24.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Reading 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%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.4%Highest
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%
84.9%
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.
1969Lowest
11 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
33 minHighest
25% 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%
22.9%±10.6
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Reading 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 — Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town Hampden Academy — 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

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.