What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).

Orford has the oldest population (median age 48.9).

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	Orford
People
Population	7,896Highest	1,295Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S.	48.9±3.3Highest 26% above U.S.
Kids under 18	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%	12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampden and Orford 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 39% above U.S.	$92,571±$24kLowest 15% above U.S.
	Hampden and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kHighest 9% below U.S.	$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Hampden and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Highest 9% below U.S.	$1,263±$686Lowest 11% below U.S.
	Hampden and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.	$5,836Highest 87% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	37.8%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Orford and Hampden 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%	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	26 minHighest 3% below U.S.
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#6 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 22	Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town	Hampden Academy	Rivendell Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.