What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k 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	Townsend
People
Population	7,896Lowest	9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41±2.9Highest 5% above U.S.	40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Hampden and Townsend 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%	21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hampden and Townsend 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%	17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampden and Townsend 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%	35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampden and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,959±$13kLowest 39% above U.S.	$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.
	Townsend and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S.	$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S.
	Townsend 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.	$6,031Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Townsend 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%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#6 of 133 in ME	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 22	North Middlesex
High school in town	Hampden Academy	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	13.1Lowest
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.