What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).

Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% 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	Lebanon
People
Population	7,896Lowest	14,999Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41±2.9Highest 5% above U.S.	38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average
	Hampden and Lebanon 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%	14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lebanon 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%	57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lebanon and Hampden 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.	$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S.
	Hampden and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S.	$385,400±$29kHighest 16% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.	$8,149Highest 161% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	41.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lebanon 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 U.S.: 12.5%	7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 14% below U.S.	14 minLowest 47% below U.S.
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lebanon 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	#29 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 22	Lebanon School District
High school in town	Hampden Academy	Lebanon 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.