What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hamlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.5%).

Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).

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	Hamlin	Wheelock
People
Population	8,652Highest	717Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.9±3.7Lowest 8% above U.S.	51±5.6Highest 31% above U.S.
	Wheelock and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	18.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hamlin and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hamlin and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,510±$9kHighest 3% above U.S.	$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S.
	Hamlin and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$166,200±$9kLowest 50% below U.S.	$189,600±$37kHighest 43% below U.S.
	Wheelock and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,062±$137 25% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,343Highest 39% above U.S.	$2,937Lowest 6% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.6%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hamlin and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	28 minLowest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.1%±16Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wheelock and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.