Compare towns
Hampden vs White River Junction 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 the most kids (25.8% under 18).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | White River Junction | Orrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,896Highest |
3,364Lowest |
3,853 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
49.5±3.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 39% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$94,556±$10k 17% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,300±$38k 9% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$309,000±$49kHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Orrington 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 9% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,167±$135Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Hampden and White River Junction 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. |
$5,651Highest 81% above U.S. |
$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.9%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| White River Junction and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden and White River Junction 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 | — | #41 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 22 | — | Orrington Public Schools |
| High school in town | Hampden Academy | — | 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.