What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the most homeowners (85.7%).

Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).

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	Worcester
People
Population	7,896Lowest	207,055Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41±2.9Highest 5% above U.S.	33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S.
Kids under 18	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%	19.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hampden and Worcester 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%	13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampden and Worcester 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%	35.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S.	$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S.	$374,400±$7kHighest 13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,487±$38Highest 5% above U.S.
	Worcester 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.	$4,733Highest 52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	24 minHighest 9% below U.S.
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#6 of 133 in ME	#266 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 22	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester
High school in town	Hampden Academy	South High Community
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	14.6Lowest
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.