What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the most affordable homes ($358k median).

Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).

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	Dunbarton
People
Population	4,946Highest	3,097Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.9±3.3Highest 31% above U.S.	48±3.7Lowest 23% above U.S.
	Hampden and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dunbarton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampden and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampden and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,536±$16kLowest 29% above U.S.	$124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S.
	Dunbarton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$358,200±$16kLowest 8% above U.S.	$484,100±$33kHighest 46% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,132±$107Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,166±$70Highest 17% below U.S.
	Dunbarton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,181Lowest 98% above U.S.	$8,233Highest 164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.9%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54.7%±60.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dunbarton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dunbarton 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	#199 of 282 in MA	#33 of 120 in NH
School district	Hampden-Wilbraham	Dunbarton School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.