Compare towns
Gray vs Barton 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).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Hampden has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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 | Barton | Hampden | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429Highest |
730Lowest |
7,896 |
8,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
40±5.5Lowest 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% |
24.1%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barton and Gray 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% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7 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. |
$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Gray 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. |
$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$301,300±$38k 9% below U.S. |
$369,100±$19kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Berwick and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
$1,452±$430Highest about the U.S. average |
| Berwick and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683 18% above U.S. |
$3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,694 18% above U.S. |
$4,436Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barton and Gray 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% |
25.8%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% |
52.7%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. |
1945Lowest 35 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. |
31 minHighest 18% 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% |
16.5%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #38 of 70 in VT | #6 of 133 in ME | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | — | RSU 22 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | — | Hampden Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.