Compare towns
Orrington vs Augusta vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orrington has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
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 | Orrington | Augusta | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,853Lowest |
19,077Highest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±3.3Highest 10% above ME |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.8%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Orrington and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% ME: 36.2% |
28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,556±$10k 27% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
| Hampden and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$49kHighest 4% above ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$301,300±$38k about the ME average |
| Orrington and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,167±$135 about the ME average |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME |
| Hampden and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823 7% below ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$3,694Highest 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.9%±20.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 13% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
23 minHighest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden and Augusta 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 | #41 of 133 in ME | #119 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Orrington Public Schools | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | None in town | Cony | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 17.9Highest |
14.8Lowest |
| 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.