What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madison has the most affordable homes ($188k 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	Madison	Hampden
People
Population	4,782Lowest	7,896Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME	41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME
Kids under 18	14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	25.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4%	17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Madison and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	45.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Hampden and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,747±$11kLowest 17% below ME	$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$187,600±$40kLowest 37% below ME	$301,300±$38kHighest about the ME average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$906±$247Lowest 20% below ME	$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME
	Hampden and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,983Lowest 35% below ME	$3,694Highest 22% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.9%±11.7Highest ME: 48.4%	22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Madison and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15%Highest ME: 10.7%	7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 9% above ME	23 minLowest 7% below ME
Work from home	19.3%±10.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Hampden and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#6 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 59/MSAD 59	RSU 22
High school in town	Madison Jr/Sr High School	Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	10.0Lowest	14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.