Compare towns
Gray vs Acton 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
Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
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.
| Measure | Gray | Acton | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,429 |
24,155Highest |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Acton and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gray and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest 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 | $95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,694 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #10 of 133 in ME | #13 of 282 in MA | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Acton-Boxborough | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Lowest |
13.5 |
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.