What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the most homeowners (85.7%).

Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).

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	Westbrook
People
Population	7,896Lowest	20,775Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+16.6%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41±2.9Highest 8% below ME	37.4±1Lowest 17% below ME
	Hampden and Westbrook 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%	18.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Hampden and Westbrook 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%	18.1%±2.2Highest ME: 22.4%
	Westbrook 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%	41.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	9%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8%
	Westbrook and Hampden 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	$85,038±$7kLowest 14% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average	$383,300±$19kHighest 29% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Lowest 13% above ME	$1,392±$74Highest 22% above ME
	Westbrook and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Lowest 22% above ME	$4,005Highest 32% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	46.1%±7.4Highest ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME	1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 7% below ME	19 minLowest 24% below ME
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%	17.8%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Hampden and Westbrook 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	#115 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 22	Westbrook Public Schools
High school in town	Hampden Academy	Westbrook High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	12.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.