What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Conway has the oldest population (median age 55).

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	Conway
People
Population	7,896Lowest	10,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S.	55±4.1Highest 41% above U.S.
Kids under 18	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%	12.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	35.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampden and Conway 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 39% above U.S.	$64,385±$8kLowest 20% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S.	$314,000±$43kHighest 6% below U.S.
	Conway 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 9% below U.S.	$1,095±$141Lowest 23% below U.S.
	Hampden and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.	$4,087Highest 31% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.3%±13.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Conway and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 14% below U.S.	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampden and Conway 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	#76 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 22	Conway School District
High school in town	Hampden Academy	Kennett High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	11.7Lowest
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.