What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cumberland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.5%).

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	Cumberland	Hampden
People
Population	8,647Highest	7,896Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+17.5%Highest ME: +2.6%	+6.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.9±4Highest 6% below ME	41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME
	Cumberland and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Hampden and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4%	17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Cumberland and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	72.5%Highest ME: 36.2%	45.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Hampden and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$173,894±$20kHighest 133% above ME	$111,959±$13kLowest 50% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$616,800±$42kHighest 108% above ME	$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,143±$759Highest 88% above ME	$1,286±$317Lowest 13% above ME
	Cumberland and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,116Highest 134% above ME	$3,694Lowest 22% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.1%±31.3Highest ME: 48.4%	22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Cumberland and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	85.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest about the ME average	23 minLowest 7% below ME
Work from home	25.3%±7Highest ME: 15.9%	21.3%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Cumberland 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	#25 of 133 in ME	#6 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 51/MSAD 51	RSU 22
High school in town	Greely High School	Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Lowest	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.