Compare towns

Barnard vs Gray vs Hampden

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnard has the most expensive homes ($403k median).
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Hampden has the shortest commute (23 min average).

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.

MeasureBarnardGrayHampden
People
Population
1,211Lowest
8,429Highest
7,896
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.4±6
9% above U.S.
43.4±4.5Highest
12% above U.S.
41±2.9Lowest
5% above U.S.
Gray and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
19%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25.8%±5.7
U.S.: 22%
Barnard and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Barnard and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Gray and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,581±$19k
21% above U.S.
$95,236±$8kLowest
18% above U.S.
$111,959±$13kHighest
39% above U.S.
Hampden and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$402,600±$71kHighest
21% above U.S.
$363,700±$20k
9% above U.S.
$301,300±$38kLowest
9% below U.S.
Barnard and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,372±$80Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,371±$89
about the U.S. average
$1,286±$317Lowest
9% below U.S.
Barnard and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,038Highest
94% above U.S.
$3,683Lowest
18% above U.S.
$3,694
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27%±19.8
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
22.2%±15.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
8% above U.S.
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±10.8
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.3%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampden and Barnard 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 — #10 of 133 in ME #6 of 133 in ME
School district Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences RSU 22
High school in town None in town Gray-New Gloucester High School Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.5Lowest
14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.