Compare towns
Gray vs Williston vs Hermon 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
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
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 | Williston | Hermon | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429 |
10,144Highest |
6,727Lowest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+19.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.1±4.7 6% above U.S. |
41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Williston and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Hermon 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% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Hermon 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.1Lowest 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±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$96,629±$22k 20% 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. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$333,600±$32k about the U.S. average |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,406±$202 about the U.S. average |
$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683 18% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,761Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$3,694 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.2%±19.1 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
2000Highest 20 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.2Lowest 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #54 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Hermon Public Schools | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town | Hermon High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Lowest |
— | 14.6 |
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.