Compare towns
Hampden vs Lyme vs Gray
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Hampden | Lyme | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,896 |
1,710Lowest |
8,429Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest 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 | $111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
| Lyme and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,694 18% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme 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 | #6 of 133 in ME | — | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 22 | Lyme School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Hampden Academy | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 12.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.