What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mansfield has the most expensive homes ($604k 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	Mansfield	Hampden
People
Population	23,931Highest	7,896Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.4±1.3Highest 6% above U.S.	41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Mansfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hampden and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampden and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mansfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,273±$15kHighest 55% above U.S.	$111,959±$13kLowest 39% above U.S.
	Mansfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,500±$28kHighest 81% above U.S.	$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,803±$147Highest 28% above U.S.	$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,226Highest 132% above U.S.	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mansfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%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 25% above U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	20%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampden and Mansfield 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	#60 of 282 in MA	#6 of 133 in ME
School district	Mansfield	RSU 22
High school in town	Mansfield High	Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	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.