Compare towns
Gray vs Hampton Beach vs Hampstead vs Windham
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 affordable homes ($364k median).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429 |
2,605Lowest |
9,102 |
19,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% 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. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Windham 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% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest 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% |
44.2% 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% |
3.9%±1.1 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. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| 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±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% 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. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$3,938 26% 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% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 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 | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | — | Hampstead School District | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | — | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
— | — | 12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.