The Town FilesHampden, Massachusetts
Town in Hampden County · population 4,966 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $358,200
- Household income
- $104,536
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 50.9
Hampden is a town of 4,966 people in Hampden County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $358,200, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks easier by car than 97% of Massachusetts towns, quieter than 90% of Massachusetts towns, better for families than 76% of Massachusetts towns.
How Hampden ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Hampden is worth $358,200, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $104,536, which is more affordable than 93% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,132 a month. 94.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hampden | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $358,200 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,132 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $104,536 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 94.9% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hampden
| People | Hampden | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.9 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 14.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.9% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.8% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 25.9 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.2% | 93.9% |
Weather in Hampden
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 13.6°F. About 50.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 51.5 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hampden since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 1, 2011 about 2.4 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 202 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 18, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 26, 2011.
Severe weather in Hampden County since 1996
Hampden County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| April 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4110: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3350: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Hampden County
Hampden County had 202,129 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,834 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Hampden itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in Hampden
1 public school with 276 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Meadows Elementary | PK-8 | 276 | 13.1 |
Towns near Hampden
- Wilbraham, MA3.9 mi · 14,613 people · home $416,000
- East Longmeadow, MA4.2 mi · 16,430 people · home $376,800
- Wilbraham, MA4.3 mi · 4,003 people · home $400,300
- Monson, MA5.2 mi · 8,150 people · home $348,400
- Somers, CT5.7 mi · 10,255 people · home $395,800
- Springfield, MA7.0 mi · 155,929 people · home $245,000
- Longmeadow, MA7.9 mi · 15,853 people · home $454,100
- Ludlow, MA8.0 mi · 21,002 people · home $335,300
Hampden questions
Is Hampden, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hampden scores better for retirees than 19% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 90%. 26.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.9).
How much does a house cost in Hampden?
The median owner-occupied home in Hampden is valued at $358,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $104,536, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,132 a month.
What is the weather like in Hampden?
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 13.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.2 inches of precipitation a year and 51.5 inches of snow.
Does Hampden get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hampden since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 1, 2011. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)