Compare towns
Gray vs Worcester 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 oldest population (median age 43.4).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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.
| Measure | Gray | Worcester | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,429 |
207,055Highest |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Gray and Hampden 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% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gray and Hampden 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% |
35.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% 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±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Worcester and Gray 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 |
$1,487±$38Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Worcester and Gray 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. |
$4,733Highest 52% above U.S. |
$3,694 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden and Gray 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | South High Community | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Lowest |
14.6 |
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.