What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).

Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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	Hampton	Mendon
People
Population	1,145Highest	1,113Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±14.7Lowest 11% above U.S.	53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S.
	Mendon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22%	14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hampton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,796±$8kLowest 9% below U.S.	$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S.
	Mendon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S.	$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S.	$1,230±$651Lowest 13% below U.S.
	Hampton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S.	$5,342Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mendon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.