What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the shortest commute (22 min average).

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

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	Hampden	Durham
People
Population	5,161Highest	4,262Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.1±6.3Lowest 8% below ME	42.6±5.9Highest 5% below ME
	Durham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.3%±7.8Highest ME: 18.1%	19.7%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Hampden and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.6%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4%	16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Hampden and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	34.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Durham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,228±$22kHighest 50% above ME	$99,181±$5kLowest 33% above ME
	Hampden and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$285,900±$33kLowest 4% below ME	$322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME
	Durham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,133±$375 about the ME average	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,863Highest 27% above ME	$3,781Lowest 25% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.2%±18Highest ME: 48.4%	25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Hampden and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Highest ME: 10.7%	4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	95.4%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 9% below ME	28 minHighest 13% above ME
Work from home	16.1%±6Lowest ME: 15.9%	20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Durham 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	#6 of 133 in ME	#14 of 133 in ME
School district	—	RSU 05
High school in town	—	None in town
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.