What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% 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	Somersworth
People
Population	7,896Lowest	12,111Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41±2.9Highest 5% above U.S.	38.4±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average
	Hampden and Somersworth 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%	19.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hampden and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampden and Somersworth 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 U.S.: 35.7%	31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampden and Somersworth 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.	$74,504±$13kLowest 8% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S.	$318,400±$23kHighest 4% below U.S.
	Somersworth and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,477±$134Highest 5% above U.S.
	Somersworth and Hampden 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.	$6,805Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.3%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#6 of 133 in ME	#117 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 22	Somersworth School District
High school in town	Hampden Academy	Somersworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	11.4Lowest
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.