Compare towns
Orrington vs Berwick 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).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Hampden has the highest household income ($112k).
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 | Berwick | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,853Lowest |
8,175Highest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±3.3Highest 10% above ME |
40.7±2.9Lowest 9% below ME |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.7%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Berwick 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% |
17.2%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Orrington and Berwick 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% |
35%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±1.7Lowest 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±$10kLowest 27% above ME |
$94,771±$24k 27% above ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
| Hampden and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$49k 4% above ME |
$369,100±$19kHighest 24% above ME |
$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
| Berwick and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,167±$135Lowest about the ME average |
$1,452±$430Highest 27% above ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
| Berwick and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 7% below ME |
$4,436Highest 46% above ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.9%±20.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.6%±46Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Berwick and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.2%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden and 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 | #41 of 133 in ME | #101 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Orrington Public Schools | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | 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.