What stands out worked out from the figures below

Conway has the oldest population (median age 55).

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	Conway	Hampden
People
Population	10,141Highest	7,896Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55±4.1Highest 41% above U.S.	41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	35.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampden and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,385±$8kLowest 20% below U.S.	$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$314,000±$43kHighest 6% below U.S.	$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S.
	Conway and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,095±$141Lowest 23% below U.S.	$1,286±$317Highest 9% below U.S.
	Hampden and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,087Highest 31% above U.S.	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.3%±13.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Conway and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.	23 minHighest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	13.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampden and Conway 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	#76 of 120 in NH	#6 of 133 in ME
School district	Conway School District	RSU 22
High school in town	Kennett High School	Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Lowest	14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.