Compare towns
Gray vs Ayer vs Hampden vs Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gray has the oldest population (median age 43.4).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Hampden has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Berwick has the most homeowners (87.4%).
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 | Ayer | Hampden | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429 |
8,645Highest |
7,896Lowest |
8,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Gray and Hampden 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% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Berwick 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gray and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7Lowest 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±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,452±$430Highest about the U.S. average |
| Berwick and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,057Highest 62% above U.S. |
$3,694 18% above U.S. |
$4,436 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Hampden 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #6 of 133 in ME | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Ayer Shirley School District | RSU 22 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Hampden Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
11.5Lowest |
14.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.