What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).

Hampden has the most people working from home (21.3%).

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	Hanson	Hampden
People
Population	10,660Highest	7,896Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S.	41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Hanson and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hampden and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hanson and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampden and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S.	$111,959±$13kLowest 39% above U.S.
	Hanson and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S.	$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S.	$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S.
	Hanson and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,402Highest 105% above U.S.	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanson and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#149 of 282 in MA	#6 of 133 in ME
School district	Whitman-Hanson	RSU 22
High school in town	Whitman Hanson Regional	Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Lowest	14.8Highest
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.