Compare towns
Gray vs Brookfield vs Castleton 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
Gray has the most expensive homes ($364k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
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 | Brookfield | Castleton | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429Highest |
1,486Lowest |
4,453 |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
47±5.9Highest 21% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Gray 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% |
29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Castleton 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% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$98,500±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$20kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$301,300±$38k 9% below U.S. |
| Gray and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
$975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
| Gray and Hampden 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. |
$4,560Highest 46% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,694 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton 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% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older 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. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town | None in town | Hampden Academy |
| 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.