What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k median).

Cumberland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.5%).

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	Cumberland
People
Population	7,896Lowest	8,647Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+17.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME	41.9±4Highest 6% below ME
	Cumberland 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%	25.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Hampden and Cumberland 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%	19.8%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Cumberland 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%Lowest ME: 36.2%	72.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%	3.9%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Hampden and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,959±$13kLowest 50% above ME	$173,894±$20kHighest 133% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average	$616,800±$42kHighest 108% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Lowest 13% above ME	$2,143±$759Highest 88% above ME
	Cumberland and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Lowest 22% above ME	$7,116Highest 134% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	47.1%±31.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	Cumberland and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 7% below ME	24 minHighest about the ME average
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	25.3%±7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Cumberland 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	#25 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 22	RSU 51/MSAD 51
High school in town	Hampden Academy	Greely High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	9.5Lowest
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.