What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).

Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).

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	Augusta
People
Population	7,896Lowest	19,077Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME	42.5±2.4Highest 5% below ME
	Augusta and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%	18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Hampden and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	Augusta and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Hampden and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME	$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kHighest about the ME average	$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME	$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME
	Hampden and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Highest 22% above ME	$2,465Lowest 19% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	18.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME	1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 7% below ME	19 minLowest 24% below ME
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%	15.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Hampden and Augusta 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	#119 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 22	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy
High school in town	Hampden Academy	Cony
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Lowest	17.9Highest
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.