Compare towns

Gray vs Croydon 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).
Croydon has the most homeowners (86.6%).
Hampden has the most people working from home (21.3%).

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.

MeasureGrayCroydonHampden
People
Population
8,429Highest
798Lowest
7,896
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.4±4.5Highest
12% above U.S.
43±9.1
11% above U.S.
41±2.9Lowest
5% above U.S.
Gray and Croydon 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%
19%±6.3Lowest
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%
27.4%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
21.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±3.3Lowest
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.
$98,333±$21k
22% above U.S.
$111,959±$13kHighest
39% above U.S.
Hampden and Croydon 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.
$317,300±$33k
5% below U.S.
$301,300±$38kLowest
9% below U.S.
Gray and Croydon 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
$991±$336Lowest
30% 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
$3,683Lowest
18% above U.S.
$3,806Highest
22% above U.S.
$3,694
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
7.1%±75.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
22.2%±15.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray and Hampden 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%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
12.3%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
5.3%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.3%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampden and Gray 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 — #6 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences Croydon School District RSU 22
High school in town Gray-New Gloucester High School None in town 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

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.