Compare towns
Rockport vs Nelson vs Camden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rockport has the shortest commute (11 min average).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Camden has the most renters (26.5% rent).
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 | Rockport | Nelson | Camden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,675 |
648Lowest |
5,242Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.7±3.7 25% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
52.2±6.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Camden and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
38%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rockport and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,979±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$82,344±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Nelson and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $469,000±$50k 41% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$520,600±$70kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Camden and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$667Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,269±$354Highest 10% below U.S. |
| Camden and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,764 85% above U.S. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$5,832Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±42.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rockport and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 11 minLowest 57% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Camden 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 | #8 of 133 in ME | — | #11 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Five Town CSD · RSU 28/MSAD 28 | Nelson School District | RSU 28/MSAD 28 |
| High school in town | Camden Hills Regional H S | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | — |
| 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.