What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Newport has the most affordable homes ($179k 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	Newport
People
Population	7,896Highest	4,394Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S.	46.4±4.3Highest 19% above U.S.
	Newport 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%	13.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampden and Newport 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.	$54,646±$12kLowest 32% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kHighest 9% below U.S.	$179,400±$11kLowest 46% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Highest 9% below U.S.	$850±$49Lowest 40% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.	$4,036Highest 29% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.2%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newport 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%	23%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	57.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 14% below U.S.	15 minLowest 45% below U.S.
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.8%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampden and Newport 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	#63 of 70 in VT
School district	RSU 22	Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District
High school in town	Hampden Academy	North Country Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	10.7Lowest
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.