Compare towns
Jackson vs Mapleton vs Hampden vs Sorrento
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has the most renters (21.4% rent).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Hampden has the most people working from home (21.3%).
Sorrento has the youngest population (median age 33.8).
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 | Jackson | Mapleton | Hampden | Sorrento |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567 |
1,884 |
7,896Highest |
345Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
41.8±6Highest 7% below ME |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
33.8±23.7Lowest 25% below ME |
| Mapleton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±7.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±10Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Sorrento and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.9% ME: 36.2% |
51%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±4.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,167±$19kLowest about the ME average |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
$83,438±$10k 12% above ME |
| Hampden and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$301,300±$38kHighest about the ME average |
$298,800±$38k about the ME average |
| Hampden and Sorrento are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12 45% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
$1,696±$433Highest 49% above ME |
| Sorrento and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,651 13% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,694Highest 22% above ME |
$1,929 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
4.8%±91.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Hampden and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
34 min 39% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.4%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden and Jackson 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 | — |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 22 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Hampden Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.