What stands out worked out from the figures below

Beals has the oldest population (median age 48).

Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).

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	Beals	Hampden
People
Population	498Lowest	7,896Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48±15.6Highest 7% above ME	41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME
	Beals and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.1%±6.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Hampden and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.1%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4%	17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	45.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±5.5Highest ME: 5.8%	5.3%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Beals and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,063±$14kLowest 14% below ME	$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,700±$45kLowest 13% below ME	$301,300±$38kHighest about the ME average
	Hampden and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$907±$378Lowest 20% below ME	$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME
	Hampden and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,580Lowest 15% below ME	$3,694Highest 22% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4%	22.2%±15.1Highest ME: 48.4%
	Hampden and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.8%Highest ME: 10.7%	7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 17% below ME	23 minHighest 7% below ME
Work from home	17.6%±10.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Hampden and Beals 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	—	#6 of 133 in ME
School district	Beals Public Schools	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

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.