Compare towns
Gray vs Wells vs Williston 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
Wells has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Williston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Wells | Williston | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429 |
11,713Highest |
10,144 |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Wells and Williston 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%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Williston 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% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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 18% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Williston 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. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Wells and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683 18% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,694 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Williston 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Hampden 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #11 of 70 in VT | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Wells High School | None in town | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
11.4Lowest |
— | 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.