Compare towns

Gray vs York vs Hampden vs Berwick

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

York has the most expensive homes ($636k median).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k median).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).

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.

MeasureGrayYorkHampdenBerwick
People
Population
8,429
13,986Highest
7,896Lowest
8,175
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%
ME: +2.6%
+9.5%
ME: +2.6%
+6.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+9.7%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
43.4±4.5
3% below ME
49.5±5.2Highest
10% above ME
41±2.9
8% below ME
40.7±2.9Lowest
9% below ME
York and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±4Lowest
ME: 18.1%
21.1%±3.3
ME: 18.1%
25.8%±5.7Highest
ME: 18.1%
22.7%±4.4
ME: 18.1%
Hampden and Berwick 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%
27.9%±3.2Highest
ME: 22.4%
17.2%±3.6Lowest
ME: 22.4%
17.2%±4.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.8%
ME: 36.2%
53.1%Highest
ME: 36.2%
45.9%
ME: 36.2%
35%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.2Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.5%±1.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5.3%±2.3
ME: 5.8%
3.7%±1.7
ME: 5.8%
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
27% above ME
$121,250±$25kHighest
62% above ME
$111,959±$13k
50% above ME
$94,771±$24kLowest
27% above ME
York and Hampden 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
$636,400±$30kHighest
115% above ME
$301,300±$38kLowest
about the ME average
$369,100±$19k
24% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,371±$89
20% above ME
$1,490±$336Highest
31% above ME
$1,286±$317Lowest
13% above ME
$1,452±$430
27% above ME
York and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,683Lowest
21% above ME
$4,658Highest
53% above ME
$3,694
22% above ME
$4,436
46% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±24
ME: 48.4%
56.5%±10.8Highest
ME: 48.4%
22.2%±15.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
50.6%±46
ME: 48.4%
York and Gray 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%
5.8%
ME: 10.7%
7.5%Highest
ME: 10.7%
4.2%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.4%
ME: 74.3%
81.5%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
85.7%
ME: 74.3%
87.4%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
6 yrs newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
1982
5 yrs newer than ME
1989Highest
12 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
16% above ME
24 min
4% below ME
23 minLowest
7% below ME
30 minHighest
20% above ME
Work from home
12.3%±3.5Lowest
ME: 15.9%
26%±3.9Highest
ME: 15.9%
21.3%±5.5
ME: 15.9%
20.2%±7.6
ME: 15.9%
York 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 #13 of 133 in ME #6 of 133 in ME #101 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences York Public Schools RSU 22 RSU 60/MSAD 60
High school in town Gray-New Gloucester High School York High School Hampden Academy None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.5
9.6Lowest
14.8Highest
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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.