What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belfast has the oldest population (median age 60.6).

Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).

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	Belfast	Hampden
People
Population	6,986Lowest	7,896Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME	41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME
Kids under 18	14.2%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4%	17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	45.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,679±$9kLowest 9% below ME	$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,900±$34kHighest 15% above ME	$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average
	Belfast and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$962±$92Lowest 16% below ME	$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME
	Hampden and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,145Highest 37% above ME	$3,694Lowest 22% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±14.4Highest ME: 48.4%	22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Belfast and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16%Highest ME: 10.7%	7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 13% below ME	23 minHighest 7% below ME
Work from home	12%±6Lowest ME: 15.9%	21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Hampden and Belfast 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	#84 of 133 in ME	#6 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 71	RSU 22
High school in town	Belfast Area High School	Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	14.8Highest
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.