What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jericho has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

Hampden has the most affordable homes ($358k 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	Jericho	Hampden
People
Population	5,114Highest	4,946Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.7±5.1Lowest 28% above U.S.	50.9±3.3Highest 31% above U.S.
	Hampden and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22%	14%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Jericho and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampden and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	65.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampden and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$116,923±$16kHighest 45% above U.S.	$104,536±$16kLowest 29% above U.S.
	Jericho and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$493,100±$38kHighest 48% above U.S.	$358,200±$16kLowest 8% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,731±$111Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,132±$107Lowest 20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,318Highest 135% above U.S.	$6,181Lowest 98% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	79.3%±52.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.9%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jericho and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	0.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	21.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#6 of 70 in VT	#199 of 282 in MA
School district	Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401	Hampden-Wilbraham
High school in town	Mt. Mansfield Union High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0	—
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.