What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Webster has the most expensive homes ($339k 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	Webster
People
Population	7,896Highest	2,227Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S.	44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S.
	Webster 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 U.S.: 22%	22.6%±8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hampden and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Webster 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%	30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampden and Webster 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.	$107,171±$14kLowest 33% above U.S.
	Hampden and Webster 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.	$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average
	Webster 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.	$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average
	Webster 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.	$6,021Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Webster 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%	9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampden and Webster 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	—
School district	RSU 22	Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town	Hampden Academy	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8	—
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.