Compare towns

Van Buren vs Hamlin

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Van Buren has the most kids (16.7% under 18).
Hamlin has the most people working from home (32%).

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.

MeasureVan BurenHamlin
People
Population
1,634Highest
111Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.6%
ME: +2.6%
—
Median age
56.4±3.3Lowest
26% above ME
61.8±15.9Highest
38% above ME
Hamlin and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.7%±4.9Highest
ME: 18.1%
7.2%±17.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Van Buren and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
35.1%±8.7Lowest
ME: 22.4%
40.5%±9.7Highest
ME: 22.4%
Hamlin and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
10.3%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
16.2%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2.3Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.7%±3.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Van Buren and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$38,851±$4kLowest
48% below ME
$50,938±$7kHighest
32% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$97,900±$29kLowest
67% below ME
$200,000±$58kHighest
33% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$733±$141
36% below ME
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,335Lowest
56% below ME
$1,339Highest
56% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.7%±10.8Lowest
ME: 48.4%
100%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
Hamlin and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
24.2%Highest
ME: 10.7%
17.1%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
61.7%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
75.5%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
21 yrs older than ME
1983Highest
6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
16 minHighest
34% below ME
15 minLowest
39% below ME
Work from home
8.9%±6.7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
32%±47.2Highest
ME: 15.9%
Hamlin and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.