Compare towns
Orrington vs Wells 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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% 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 | Wells | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,853Lowest |
11,713Highest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±3.3 10% above ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
| Wells and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Wells 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% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wells 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% |
43.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and Wells 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 |
$88,024±$11kLowest 18% above 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±$49k 4% above ME |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,167±$135Lowest about the ME average |
$1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
| Wells 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 |
$3,215 6% above ME |
$3,694Highest 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.9%±20.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Wells 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 ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest 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 |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden and Wells 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Orrington Public Schools | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.