Compare towns
Gray vs Durham vs Hermon 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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
Berwick has the most homeowners (87.4%).
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 | Hermon | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429 |
15,080Highest |
6,727Lowest |
8,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+19.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
41.1±4.7 6% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Gray and Hermon 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% |
21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Hermon 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hermon 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% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest 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% |
4.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$96,629±$22k 20% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Durham and Hermon 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. |
$333,600±$32kLowest about the U.S. average |
$369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,406±$202 about the U.S. average |
$1,452±$430Highest about the U.S. average |
| Berwick and Durham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,761Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$4,436 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.2%±19.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
2000Highest 20 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick 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 | #54 of 133 in ME | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Oyster River Coop School District | Hermon Public Schools | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Oyster River High School | Hermon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
12.3Lowest |
14.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 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.