Compare towns
Gray vs Edgecomb vs Mapleton vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Edgecomb has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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.
| Measure | Gray | Edgecomb | Mapleton | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429Highest |
1,251Lowest |
1,884 |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Highest 3% below ME |
41±8.8Lowest 8% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
| Gray and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 ME: 18.1% |
16.9%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4 ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±7.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Edgecomb 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% ME: 36.2% |
39.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
8%±6.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Edgecomb and Gray 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 27% above ME |
$108,750±$18k 46% above ME |
$91,731±$25kLowest 23% above ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
| Hampden and Edgecomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$20kHighest 23% above ME |
$348,400±$36k 17% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$301,300±$38k about the ME average |
| Gray and Edgecomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89Highest 20% above ME |
— | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
| 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 21% above ME |
$3,577 18% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,694Highest 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.1%±43.8 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1 ME: 48.4% |
| 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 ME: 10.7% |
5.6% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% ME: 74.3% |
90.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 16% above ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | Edgecomb Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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 |
ME 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.