Compare towns
Gray vs Old Orchard Beach vs Saco vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Old Orchard Beach has the oldest population (median age 58).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Old Orchard Beach | Saco | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429 |
9,244 |
20,819Highest |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% ME: +2.6% |
+3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
58±3.5Highest 29% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 ME: 18.1% |
6.5%±2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
33.5%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% ME: 36.2% |
42.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
7%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Old Orchard Beach 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±$8k 27% above ME |
$60,050±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
| Hampden and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$20k 23% above ME |
$366,600±$38k 24% above ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
| Saco and Old Orchard Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89Highest 20% above ME |
$1,246±$182Lowest 9% above ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
| Gray and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683 21% above ME |
$3,426Lowest 13% above ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.7%±15 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Gray and Old Orchard Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% ME: 74.3% |
68.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
72.8% ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 16% above ME |
22 minLowest 11% below ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden and Saco 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 | #67 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | RSU 23 | Saco Public Schools | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Old Orchard Beach High School | None in town | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
7.6Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.