What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).

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	Thompson
People
Population	7,896Lowest	9,337Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thompson 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 U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampden and Thompson 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.	$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.
	Hampden and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kHighest 9% below U.S.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
	Hampden and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Highest 9% below U.S.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Hampden and Thompson 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.	$3,822Highest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson 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%	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampden and Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	RSU 22	Thompson School District
High school in town	Hampden Academy	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	7.9Lowest
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.