Compare towns
Orrington vs Smithfield 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Orrington | Smithfield | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,853 |
856Lowest |
7,896Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±3.3 10% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
| Smithfield and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.8%±5.1 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield and Orrington 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% |
34.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$107,917±$27k 44% above ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
| Hampden and Smithfield 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 |
$242,800±$15kLowest 18% 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 |
$1,109±$358Lowest about the ME average |
$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 | $2,823Lowest 7% below ME |
$2,866 6% below ME |
$3,694Highest 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.9%±20.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Smithfield 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield 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 | — | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Orrington Public Schools | — | RSU 22 |
| High school 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.