Compare towns
Hampden vs Winthrop vs South Berwick
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%).
Winthrop has the most people working from home (23.1%).
South Berwick has the most expensive homes ($428k 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 | Winthrop | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,896Highest |
6,191Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41±2.9 8% below ME |
43.6±5.3Highest about the ME average |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
| Winthrop and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.8%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest 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% |
23.4%±5Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Winthrop 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% |
40%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and South Berwick 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 |
$86,470±$4kLowest 16% above ME |
$99,572±$13k 33% 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±$38k about the ME average |
$294,800±$41kLowest about the ME average |
$428,300±$26kHighest 44% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$317 13% above ME |
$892±$319Lowest 22% below ME |
$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,694 22% above ME |
$3,506Lowest 15% above ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.8%±22.4 ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| South Berwick and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% ME: 10.7% |
12.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
23.1%±6.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Winthrop 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 | #12 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 22 | Winthrop Public Schools | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Hampden Academy | Winthrop High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
11.7Lowest |
13.0 |
| 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.