What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bethel has the most people working from home (27.7%).

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	Bethel
People
Population	7,896Highest	2,617Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME	50.2±6.4Highest 12% above ME
	Bethel 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%	15.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Hampden and Bethel 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%	29.3%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	41.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%	2.7%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Hampden and Bethel 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	$58,929±$23kLowest 21% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average	$344,900±$37kHighest 16% above ME
	Bethel and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME	$864±$43Lowest 24% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Highest 22% above ME	$2,835Lowest 7% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Highest ME: 48.4%	21.3%±15.4Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Hampden and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	13.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.9%Lowest 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	23 minLowest 7% below ME	26 minHighest 5% above ME
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	27.7%±8.1Highest ME: 15.9%
	Bethel 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	#49 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 22	RSU 44/MSAD 44
High school in town	Hampden Academy	Telstar High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	11.3Lowest
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.