Compare towns
Gray vs Durham 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 oldest population (median age 43.4).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,429 |
15,080Highest |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
41±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%±4 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
| Durham and Hampden 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. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Durham and Gray 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,694 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest 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. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Oyster River High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
12.3Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.