What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Readfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).

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	Readfield
People
Population	7,896Highest	2,651Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	0%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME	48.1±7.6Highest 7% above ME
	Readfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%	18.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Hampden and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	22.3%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Readfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	48.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%	3.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Hampden and Readfield 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 50% above ME	$86,504±$8kLowest 16% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average	$326,400±$20kHighest 10% above ME
	Readfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME	$1,125±$844Lowest about the ME average
	Hampden and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Highest 22% above ME	$3,392Lowest 12% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	31.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Readfield 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 ME: 10.7%	5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%	89.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 7% below ME	30 minHighest 20% above ME
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	24.3%±14.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Readfield and Hampden 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	#20 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 22	RSU 38
High school in town	Hampden Academy	Maranacook Community High Sch
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	11.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.