What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).

Hampden has the most homeowners (85.7%).

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	Worcester	Hampden
People
Population	207,055Highest	7,896Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S.	41±2.9Highest 5% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hampden and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampden and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S.	$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$374,400±$7kHighest 13% above U.S.	$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,487±$38Highest 5% above U.S.	$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S.
	Worcester and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,733Highest 52% above U.S.	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 9% below U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	11.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#266 of 282 in MA	#6 of 133 in ME
School district	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester	RSU 22
High school in town	South High Community	Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6Lowest	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.