Compare towns
Hampden vs Ogunquit vs Thornton 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%).
Thornton has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Thornton | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,896Highest |
1,379Lowest |
2,799 |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% 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. |
51.1±3.4 31% 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% |
13.9%±4.6 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% |
19%±4.9 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% |
46.3% 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%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampden and Thornton 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. |
$90,022±$17kLowest 12% 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. |
$351,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
— | $1,270±$428Lowest 10% 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. |
$5,032Highest 61% 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% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton 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% |
9.2%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% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Thornton 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 | — | #18 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 22 | — | Thornton School District | 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.