What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Berwick has the most expensive homes ($429k median).

Hampden has the most people working from home (21.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	North Berwick	Hampden
People
Population	5,129Lowest	7,896Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	+6.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.6±4.7Highest 7% below ME	41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME
	North Berwick and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1%	25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Hampden and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.9%±5Highest ME: 22.4%	17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
	North Berwick and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29%Lowest ME: 36.2%	45.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Hampden and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,875±$16kLowest 36% above ME	$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME
	Hampden and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$428,500±$33kHighest 44% above ME	$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,105±$116Lowest about the ME average	$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME
	Hampden and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,735Highest 23% above ME	$3,694Lowest 22% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.2%±28.7Highest ME: 48.4%	22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	85.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 27% above ME	23 minLowest 7% below ME
Work from home	15%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Hampden and North Berwick 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	#82 of 133 in ME	#6 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 60/MSAD 60	RSU 22
High school in town	Noble High School	Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Lowest	14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.