Compare towns
Gray vs Ogunquit vs Northbridge 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
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
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 | Ogunquit | Northbridge | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429 |
1,379Lowest |
16,458Highest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Northbridge 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 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. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Hampden 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,207±$102Lowest 15% 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,821Highest 55% above U.S. |
$3,694 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Northbridge 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 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 |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #10 of 133 in ME | — | #226 of 282 in MA | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | — | Northbridge | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | — | Northbridge High | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
— | 10.8Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.