Compare towns

Gray vs Springfield 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).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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.

MeasureGraySpringfieldHampden
People
Population
8,429
9,084Highest
7,896Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.4±4.5Highest
12% above U.S.
43.2±3.7
11% above U.S.
41±2.9Lowest
5% above U.S.
Gray and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±4
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4Lowest
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%
23.6%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Springfield and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
23.3%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%
2.3%±1.4Lowest
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±$8k
18% above U.S.
$66,571±$13kLowest
18% below U.S.
$111,959±$13kHighest
39% above U.S.
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±$20kHighest
9% above U.S.
$192,400±$20kLowest
42% below U.S.
$301,300±$38k
9% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,371±$89Highest
about the U.S. average
$963±$100Lowest
32% 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.
$4,807Highest
54% above U.S.
$3,694
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.6%±15.6
U.S.: 51.1%
22.2%±15.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray and Springfield 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%
14.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1958Lowest
22 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
12.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
21.3%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampden and Springfield 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 #64 of 70 in VT #6 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District RSU 22
High school in town Gray-New Gloucester High School Springfield High School Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
12.5Lowest
14.3
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.