Compare towns
Steep Falls vs Mapleton vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Steep Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Hampden has the most people working from home (21.3%).
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 | Steep Falls | Mapleton | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,861Lowest |
1,884 |
7,896Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.1±6.5Highest about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
| Steep Falls and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±9.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 9.7%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Mapleton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,280±$33kLowest 7% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
| Hampden and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,400±$31k 18% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$301,300±$38kHighest about the ME average |
| Hampden and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,516±$1kHighest 33% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
| Steep Falls and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,273 8% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,694Highest 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±36.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Steep Falls and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 25% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 4%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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.