Compare towns
Mapleton vs Dedham vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
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 | Mapleton | Dedham | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,884 |
1,656Lowest |
7,896Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
| Dedham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Dedham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
45.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3Highest 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 | $91,731±$25kLowest 23% above ME |
$111,442±$18k 49% above ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
| Hampden and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$301,300±$38k about the ME average |
| Dedham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
| Dedham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Highest 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 | 8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Dedham Public Schools | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.