What stands out worked out from the figures below

York has the most expensive homes ($636k median).

Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	York	Hampden
People
Population	13,986Highest	7,896Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6%	+6.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.5±5.2Highest 10% above ME	41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME
Kids under 18	21.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Hampden and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.9%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4%	17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	45.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Hampden and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,250±$25kHighest 62% above ME	$111,959±$13kLowest 50% above ME
	York and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$636,400±$30kHighest 115% above ME	$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,490±$336Highest 31% above ME	$1,286±$317Lowest 13% above ME
	York and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,658Highest 53% above ME	$3,694Lowest 22% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.5%±10.8Highest ME: 48.4%	22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest same as ME	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 4% below ME	23 minLowest 7% below ME
Work from home	26%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9%	21.3%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	York and Hampden 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	#13 of 133 in ME	#6 of 133 in ME
School district	York Public Schools	RSU 22
High school in town	York High School	Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6Lowest	14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.