Compare towns

Gray vs Marlow 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

Gray has the most expensive homes ($364k median).
Marlow has the oldest population (median age 52.8).
Hampden has the most people working from home (21.3%).

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.

MeasureGrayMarlowHampden
People
Population
8,429Highest
855Lowest
7,896
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.4±4.5
12% above U.S.
52.8±11.7Highest
36% above U.S.
41±2.9Lowest
5% above U.S.
Marlow and Gray 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%
20.5%±6.3
U.S.: 22%
25.8%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Hampden and Marlow 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%
30.5%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
33.4%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%
3.3%±2.2Lowest
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±$8kLowest
18% above U.S.
$110,455±$12k
37% above U.S.
$111,959±$13kHighest
39% above U.S.
Hampden and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$363,700±$20kHighest
9% above U.S.
$325,400±$49k
about the U.S. average
$301,300±$38kLowest
9% below U.S.
Gray and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,371±$89Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,154±$160Lowest
18% below U.S.
$1,286±$317
9% below U.S.
Gray and Hampden 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.
$5,826Highest
87% above U.S.
$3,694
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
18.2%±95.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
22.2%±15.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray and Hampden 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%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
8% above U.S.
35 minHighest
33% above U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
12.3%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.3%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampden and Gray 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 Marlow School District RSU 22
High school in town Gray-New Gloucester High School None in town Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
12.5Lowest
—
14.8Highest
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.