Compare towns

Gray vs Hampton Beach 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

Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).

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.

MeasureGrayHampton BeachHampden
People
Population
8,429Highest
2,605Lowest
7,896
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+14.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.4±4.5
12% above U.S.
60.4±2.4Highest
55% above U.S.
41±2.9Lowest
5% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19%±4
U.S.: 22%
3.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25.8%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Hampden and Gray 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%
33.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
34%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%
0.6%±0.7Lowest
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±$8k
18% above U.S.
$82,557±$17kLowest
about the U.S. average
$111,959±$13kHighest
39% above U.S.
Hampden and Gray 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.
$508,900±$76kHighest
53% above U.S.
$301,300±$38kLowest
9% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,371±$89
about the U.S. average
$1,375±$130Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,286±$317Lowest
9% below U.S.
Hampton Beach and Gray 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.
$6,115Highest
96% above U.S.
$3,694
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±24
U.S.: 51.1%
61.7%±20.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
22.2%±15.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton Beach 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%
8.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
62.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
25 min
4% below U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
12.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.9%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.3%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampton Beach 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
School district RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences — RSU 22
High school in town Gray-New Gloucester High School — Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
12.5Lowest
—
14.8Highest
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.