What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).

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	Rome
People
Population	7,896Highest	1,215Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+13.7%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME	48.3±9.2Highest 8% above ME
	Rome 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%	21.4%±6.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Hampden and Rome 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%	24.7%±9.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Rome 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%	39.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%	5.2%±4.8Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Hampden and Rome 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	$77,639±$25kLowest 4% above ME
	Hampden and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average	$329,300±$36kHighest 11% above ME
	Rome 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 13% above ME	$1,150±$56Lowest about the ME average
	Hampden and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Highest 22% above ME	$1,829Lowest 40% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	54.2%±59.8Highest ME: 48.4%
	Rome 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 ME: 10.7%	10.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%	91.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 7% below ME	30 minHighest 21% above ME
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%	7.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#6 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 22	—
High school in town	Hampden Academy	—
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.