What stands out worked out from the figures below

Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).

Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).

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	Johnson	Hampden
People
Population	3,450Lowest	7,896Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	30.9±6.5Lowest 21% below U.S.	41±2.9Highest 5% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 22%	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hampden and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	10.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampden and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$55,346±$14kLowest 31% below U.S.	$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$169,400±$62kLowest 49% below U.S.	$301,300±$38kHighest 9% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$948±$45Lowest 33% below U.S.	$1,286±$317Highest 9% below U.S.
	Hampden and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,310Lowest 6% above U.S.	$3,694Highest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.6%±20.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Johnson and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	8.8%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#57 of 70 in VT	#6 of 133 in ME
School district	Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A	RSU 22
High school in town	None in town	Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.8
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.