Compare towns
Hampden vs South Berwick vs Orrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
South Berwick has the most expensive homes ($428k 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 | South Berwick | Orrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,896Highest |
7,670 |
3,853Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4% ME: +2.6% |
+2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41±2.9 8% below ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
49.5±3.3Highest 10% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 25.8%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.8%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Orrington 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and Orrington 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 |
$99,572±$13k 33% above ME |
$94,556±$10kLowest 27% above ME |
| Hampden and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
$428,300±$26kHighest 44% above ME |
$309,000±$49k 4% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$317 13% above ME |
$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
$1,167±$135Lowest about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,694 22% above ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
$2,823Lowest 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±15.1 ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.9%±20.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| South Berwick 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% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden and South Berwick 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 | #41 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 22 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Orrington Public Schools |
| High school in town | Hampden Academy | Marshwood High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
13.0Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.