What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).

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	Fair Haven
People
Population	7,896Highest	2,724Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41±2.9Highest 5% above U.S.	39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average
	Hampden and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%	19.4%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hampden and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.4%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Fair Haven 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 U.S.: 35.7%	23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampden and Fair Haven 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.	$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kHighest 9% below U.S.	$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Highest 9% below U.S.	$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.	$3,865Highest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fair Haven 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%	18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#6 of 133 in ME	#66 of 70 in VT
School district	RSU 22	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town	Hampden Academy	Fair Haven Union Middle and High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	12.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.