Compare towns

Gray vs Hampton vs South Berwick

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%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($545k median).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% 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.

MeasureGrayHamptonSouth Berwick
People
Population
8,429
10,101Highest
7,670Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.4±4.5
12% above U.S.
51.2±1.7Highest
32% above U.S.
39±2.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
19%±4
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
South Berwick 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%
26.9%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Gray and South Berwick 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.
$97,163±$4k
20% above U.S.
$99,572±$13kHighest
23% above U.S.
South Berwick and Hampton 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.
$545,300±$63kHighest
64% above U.S.
$428,300±$26k
29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,371±$89Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,654±$93
17% above U.S.
$1,726±$83Highest
22% above U.S.
South Berwick and Hampton 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.
$6,872Highest
120% above U.S.
$4,956
59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.9%±13.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.5%±24.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray and South Berwick 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%
4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
12.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampton and South Berwick 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 #31 of 120 in NH #58 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences — RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town Gray-New Gloucester High School — Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.5Lowest
—
13.0Highest
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.