Compare towns
Gray vs Newfields vs Rye 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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.
| Measure | Gray | Newfields | Rye | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429Highest |
2,023Lowest |
5,611 |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Gray 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Rye 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$3,694 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Rye 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Newfields 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 | — | #2 of 120 in NH | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Newfields School District | Rye School District | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town | None in town | 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 | 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.