What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the most people working from home (21.3%).

Hartford has the most renters (32.2% 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	Hartford
People
Population	7,896Lowest	10,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S.	43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S.
	Hartford 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 U.S.: 22%	18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hampden and Hartford 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%	22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hartford 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 U.S.: 35.7%	47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampden and Hartford 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.	$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S.	$304,500±$26kHighest 8% below U.S.
	Hartford 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.	$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S.
	Hampden and Hartford 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.	$5,773Highest 85% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hartford 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%	11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 14% below U.S.	18 minLowest 30% below U.S.
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampden and Hartford 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	#34 of 70 in VT
School district	RSU 22	Hartford School District
High school in town	Hampden Academy	Hartford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	9.6Lowest
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.