Compare towns
Gray vs Hampton Beach vs Hampstead vs Hermon
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 homeowners (82.4%).
Hampton Beach has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Hampstead has the highest household income ($112k).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
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 | Hampton Beach | Hampstead | Hermon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429 |
2,605Lowest |
9,102Highest |
6,727 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+19.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
41.1±4.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hermon and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% 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% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Hampstead 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 |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$96,629±$22k 20% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Hermon 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±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$333,600±$32kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Hampstead and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,406±$202Highest about the U.S. average |
| Hermon and Hampton Beach 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. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$2,761Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.2%±19.1Lowest 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
2000Highest 20 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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 | — | #49 of 120 in NH | #54 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | — | Hampstead School District | Hermon Public Schools |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | — | None in town | Hermon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Lowest |
— | — | 14.6Highest |
| 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.