What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($222k 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	Sullivan	Hampden
People
Population	1,246Lowest	7,896Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	47.1±15Highest 5% above ME	41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME
	Sullivan and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±5.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Hampden and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.5%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4%	17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Sullivan and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26%Lowest ME: 36.2%	45.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±4Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Hampden and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,643±$14kLowest 20% below ME	$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$222,000±$33kLowest 25% below ME	$301,300±$38kHighest about the ME average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$883±$114Lowest 22% below ME	$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME
	Hampden and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,228Lowest 27% below ME	$3,694Highest 22% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±23.6Highest ME: 48.4%	22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Sullivan and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.6%Highest ME: 10.7%	7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 7% above ME	23 minLowest 7% below ME
Work from home	12.6%±7.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Hampden and Sullivan 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 24	RSU 22
High school in town	Sumner Memorial High School	Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	10.5Lowest	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.