Compare towns
Gray vs Epping vs New Gloucester 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 renters (17.6% rent).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
New Gloucester has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k median).
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 | Epping | New Gloucester | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429Highest |
7,430 |
5,766Lowest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
40.1±5.5Lowest 3% above U.S. |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and New Gloucester 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%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% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.1Lowest 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. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$108,797±$12k 35% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampden and New Gloucester 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. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$357,100±$29k 7% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,150±$249Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
| Epping and Gray 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,417Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$3,694 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.7%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #65 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Epping School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Epping High School | None in town | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
9.3Lowest |
— | 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.