What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the most affordable homes ($286k median).

Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k 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	Hampden	Sutton
People
Population	5,161Lowest	9,452Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±6.3Lowest 6% above U.S.	44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S.
	Sutton 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 U.S.: 22%	19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hampden and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.6%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sutton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampden and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,228±$22kLowest 39% above U.S.	$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S.
	Sutton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$285,900±$33kLowest 14% below U.S.	$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,133±$375Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S.
	Sutton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,863Lowest 24% above U.S.	$6,763Highest 117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.2%±18Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sutton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	16.1%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sutton 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	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Sutton
High school in town	—	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.6
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.