What stands out worked out from the figures below

Moon has the most affordable homes ($293k median).

Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).

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	Moon	Hampden
People
Population	26,902Lowest	34,222Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.6%Lowest PA: +2.4%	+16.8%Highest PA: +2.4%
Median age	40.7±2.3Highest about the PA average	40±1.1Lowest about the PA average
	Moon and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±2.2Lowest PA: 20.4%	24.4%±2.1Highest PA: 20.4%
Age 65+	19.8%±2.5Highest PA: 19.5%	16.9%±1.6Lowest PA: 19.5%
	Moon and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.8%Lowest PA: 35.2%	55.3%Highest PA: 35.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.2%±1.5Highest PA: 6.1%	5.2%±1.2Lowest PA: 6.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,170±$13kHighest 45% above PA	$105,434±$5kLowest 35% above PA
	Moon and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$293,000±$12kLowest 15% above PA	$354,900±$13kHighest 39% above PA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,215±$65Lowest about the PA average	$1,466±$79Highest 21% above PA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,931Highest 49% above PA	$3,050Lowest 8% below PA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.2%±9.3Lowest PA: 48.2%	42.7%±8.9Highest PA: 48.2%
	Hampden and Moon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.3%Lowest PA: 11.7%	4.9%Highest PA: 11.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Highest PA: 69.3%	76.9%Lowest PA: 69.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 11 yrs newer than PA	1987Highest 22 yrs newer than PA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 7% above PA	23 minLowest 13% below PA
Work from home	21.1%±2.9Lowest PA: 15.6%	22.2%±2.3Highest PA: 15.6%
	Hampden and Moon 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	#163 of 764 in PA	#65 of 764 in PA
School district	Moon Area SD	Cumberland Valley SD
High school in town	Moon Area SHS	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	13.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

PA 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.