Compare towns
Hampden vs Wells vs York
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
York has the most expensive homes ($636k median).
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 | Wells | York |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,896Lowest |
11,713 |
13,986Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
49.5±5.2 10% above ME |
| Wells and York 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%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.1%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and York 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% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.9%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Wells and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
53.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and Wells 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 50% above ME |
$88,024±$11kLowest 18% above ME |
$121,250±$25kHighest 62% above ME |
| York 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 about the ME average |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
$636,400±$30kHighest 115% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$317Lowest 13% above ME |
$1,350±$297 19% above ME |
$1,490±$336Highest 31% above ME |
| York and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,694 22% above ME |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
$4,658Highest 53% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
56.5%±10.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| York and Wells 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% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| York 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #13 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 22 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | York Public Schools |
| High school in town | Hampden Academy | Wells High School | York High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
11.4 |
9.6Lowest |
| 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.