What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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	Mapleton
People
Population	7,896Highest	1,884Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME	41.8±6Highest 7% below ME
	Mapleton 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%	22.2%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Hampden and Mapleton 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%	18.3%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Mapleton 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 ME: 36.2%	34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%	5%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Hampden and Mapleton 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 50% above ME	$91,731±$25kLowest 23% above ME
	Hampden and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kHighest about the ME average	$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME	$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Highest 22% above ME	$1,789Lowest 41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Highest ME: 48.4%	16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Hampden and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	8.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME	1977Lowest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 7% below ME	28 minHighest 13% above ME
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%	10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#6 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 22	RSU 79/MSAD 01
High school in town	Hampden Academy	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.