What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Eliot has the most expensive homes ($476k median).

Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).

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	South Eliot	Hampden
People
Population	4,203Lowest	7,896Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	55.5±8Highest 24% above ME	41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME
Kids under 18	15.2%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	32.8%±6.8Highest ME: 22.4%	17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	45.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,299±$9kLowest 33% above ME	$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME
	Hampden and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$475,600±$52kHighest 60% above ME	$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,155±$292Highest 89% above ME	$1,286±$317Lowest 13% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,442Highest 46% above ME	$3,694Lowest 22% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64.3%±29.1Highest ME: 48.4%	22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	South Eliot and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 16% below ME	23 minHighest 7% below ME
Work from home	14.2%±4.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Hampden and South Eliot 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 22
High school in town	—	Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.