Compare towns
Orrington vs Dover vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orrington has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Hampden has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
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 | Dover | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,853Lowest |
33,364Highest |
5,161 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±3.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.1±6.3 6% above U.S. |
| Orrington and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±7.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orrington and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Hampden 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 17% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$112,228±$22kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$49k 7% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$285,900±$33kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,167±$135 17% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,133±$375Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$3,863 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.9%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.2%±18 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Hampden 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Orrington Public Schools | Dover School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.