What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the most expensive homes ($301k median).

Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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	Washburn
People
Population	7,896Highest	1,355Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME	48.2±7.7Highest 8% above ME
	Washburn 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%	21.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Hampden and Washburn 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%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4%
	Washburn 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%	26%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Hampden and Washburn 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	$56,196±$6kLowest 25% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kHighest about the ME average	$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME	$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Highest 22% above ME	$1,571Lowest 48% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±24.7Highest ME: 48.4%
	Washburn 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%	12.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 7% below ME	21 minLowest 15% below ME
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%	9.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#6 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 22	RSU 45/MSAD 45
High school in town	Hampden Academy	Washburn District High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	12.0Lowest
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.