Compare towns
Van Buren vs Harmony vs Hamlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
Bordering Van BurenVan Buren
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Van Buren has the most affordable homes ($98k median).
Harmony has the youngest population (median age 52.9).
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.
| Measure | Van Buren | Harmony | Hamlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,634Highest |
974 |
111Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 56.4±3.3 26% above ME |
52.9±2.5Lowest 18% 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% |
16.4%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
7.2%±17.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Van Buren and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.1%±8.7 ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.5Lowest 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% |
21.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±3.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Van Buren and Harmony 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 |
$54,063±$13kHighest 28% below ME |
$50,938±$7k 32% below ME |
| Harmony and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $97,900±$29kLowest 67% below ME |
$202,700±$58kHighest 32% below ME |
$200,000±$58k 33% below ME |
| Harmony and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $733±$141 36% below ME |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,335Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,449Highest 52% below ME |
$1,339 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.7%±10.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
43.5%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Hamlin and Harmony 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% |
15.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
67.8% ME: 74.3% |
75.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 21 yrs older than ME |
1973 4 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 16 min 34% below ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
15 minLowest 39% below ME |
| Work from home | 8.9%±6.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.8%±8.2 ME: 15.9% |
32%±47.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hamlin and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Harmony Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.