Compare towns
Gray vs Hampden vs Stoneham
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).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k 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 | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,429 |
7,896Lowest |
23,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
| Gray and Stoneham 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% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Stoneham 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% |
20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoneham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest 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% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest 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. |
$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Stoneham 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. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,694 18% above U.S. |
$6,523Highest 109% 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% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Stoneham 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% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham 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 | #6 of 133 in ME | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | RSU 22 | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Hampden Academy | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
14.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.