What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethel has the most people working from home (27.7%).

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	Bethel	Hampden
People
Population	2,617Lowest	7,896Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	50.2±6.4Highest 12% above ME	41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME
	Bethel and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Hampden and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.3%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4%	17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%	45.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Hampden and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,929±$23kLowest 21% below ME	$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$344,900±$37kHighest 16% above ME	$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average
	Bethel and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$864±$43Lowest 24% below ME	$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,835Lowest 7% below ME	$3,694Highest 22% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.3%±15.4Lowest ME: 48.4%	22.2%±15.1Highest ME: 48.4%
	Hampden and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 5% above ME	23 minLowest 7% below ME
Work from home	27.7%±8.1Highest ME: 15.9%	21.3%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Bethel 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	#49 of 133 in ME	#6 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 44/MSAD 44	RSU 22
High school in town	Telstar High School	Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	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.