Compare towns
Hampden vs Plainfield vs Orrington
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Orrington has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
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 | Plainfield | Orrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,896Highest |
2,522Lowest |
3,853 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.5±3.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orrington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampden and Plainfield 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. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$94,556±$10kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$309,000±$49k 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,167±$135Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,694 18% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.9%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden and Plainfield 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 120 in NH | #41 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 22 | Plainfield School District | Orrington Public Schools |
| High school in town | Hampden Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.