What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milton has the oldest population (median age 45.7).

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	Milton	Hampden
People
Population	4,538Lowest	7,896Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±2.4Highest 17% above U.S.	41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Milton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 22%	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hampden and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampden and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampden and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,493±$27kLowest 17% above U.S.	$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S.
	Hampden and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S.	$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S.
	Milton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S.	$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S.
	Milton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,663Highest 82% above U.S.	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.7%±24.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.7%Lowest 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	18.9%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampden and Milton 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	#116 of 120 in NH	#6 of 133 in ME
School district	Milton School District	RSU 22
High school in town	Nute High School	Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Lowest	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.