Compare towns
Limestone vs Hampden vs Caribou
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Limestone has the most affordable homes ($98k median).
Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Caribou has the shortest commute (15 min average).
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 | Limestone | Hampden | Caribou |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,579Lowest |
5,161 |
7,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -34.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.9 about the ME average |
41.1±6.3Lowest 8% below ME |
51.3±1.7Highest 15% above ME |
| Caribou and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±7.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.6%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.3%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Caribou and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.5%±4.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Limestone and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,938±$8kLowest 33% below ME |
$112,228±$22kHighest 50% above ME |
$53,709±$9k 28% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $98,400±$18kLowest 67% below ME |
$285,900±$33kHighest 4% below ME |
$134,100±$31k 55% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $754±$233Lowest 34% below ME |
$1,133±$375Highest about the ME average |
$757±$143 34% below ME |
| Hampden and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,332Lowest 56% below ME |
$3,863Highest 27% above ME |
$1,680 45% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±12.4 ME: 48.4% |
25.2%±18Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.3%±10.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Caribou and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1960 17 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 24% below ME |
22 minHighest 9% below ME |
15 minLowest 40% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.5%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden and Limestone 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 | #59 of 133 in ME |
| School district | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools | — | RSU 39 |
| High school in town | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics | — | Caribou High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
— | 14.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.