Compare towns

Berwick vs Gray vs Hampden

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Gray has the oldest population (median age 43.4).
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.

MeasureBerwickGrayHampden
People
Population
8,175
8,429Highest
7,896Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.7%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+6.5%
ME: +2.6%
+6.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
40.7±2.9Lowest
9% below ME
43.4±4.5Highest
3% below ME
41±2.9
8% below ME
Gray and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.7%±4.4
ME: 18.1%
19%±4Lowest
ME: 18.1%
25.8%±5.7Highest
ME: 18.1%
Hampden and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.2%±4.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
19.3%±4Highest
ME: 22.4%
17.2%±3.6Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Gray and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
44.8%
ME: 36.2%
45.9%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.7Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5.4%±2.2Highest
ME: 5.8%
5.3%±2.3
ME: 5.8%
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
$94,771±$24kLowest
27% above ME
$95,236±$8k
27% above ME
$111,959±$13kHighest
50% above ME
Hampden and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$369,100±$19kHighest
24% above ME
$363,700±$20k
23% above ME
$301,300±$38kLowest
about the ME average
Berwick and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,452±$430Highest
27% above ME
$1,371±$89
20% above ME
$1,286±$317Lowest
13% above ME
Berwick and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,436Highest
46% above ME
$3,683Lowest
21% above ME
$3,694
22% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.6%±46
ME: 48.4%
56.4%±24Highest
ME: 48.4%
22.2%±15.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Gray and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.2%
ME: 10.7%
3.5%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
7.5%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.4%Highest
ME: 74.3%
82.4%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
85.7%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
12 yrs newer than ME
1983
6 yrs newer than ME
1982Lowest
5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
20% above ME
29 min
16% above ME
23 minLowest
7% below ME
Work from home
20.2%±7.6
ME: 15.9%
12.3%±3.5Lowest
ME: 15.9%
21.3%±5.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
Hampden and Berwick 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 #101 of 133 in ME #10 of 133 in ME #6 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 60/MSAD 60 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 Our Story None yet 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.