Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Mapleton vs Penobscot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Penobscot has the most homeowners (84.2%).
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 | Hampton Beach | Mapleton | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,605Highest |
1,884 |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7 37% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,557±$17k about the U.S. average |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$63,194±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$296,400±$58k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$1,852 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Penobscot and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Penobscot Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.