Compare towns
Gray vs Hampden vs Hampstead
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k 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 | Hampden | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,429 |
7,896Lowest |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Gray 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% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Hampstead 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% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest 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. |
$111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampstead 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. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
| Gray and Hampstead 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. |
$3,694 18% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Hampstead 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% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden and Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | RSU 22 | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Hampden Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Lowest |
14.8Highest |
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| 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.