Compare towns

Middleton vs Gray vs Hanson

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middleton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Hanson has the most kids (21.6% 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.

MeasureMiddletonGrayHanson
People
Population
9,816
8,429Lowest
10,660Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±2
11% above U.S.
43.4±4.5Highest
12% above U.S.
42.8±3Lowest
10% above U.S.
Gray and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.2%±3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19%±4
U.S.: 22%
21.6%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Hanson and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.1%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hanson and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Gray and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$167,402±$29kHighest
107% above U.S.
$95,236±$8kLowest
18% above U.S.
$132,200±$10k
64% above U.S.
Middleton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$742,700±$48kHighest
123% above U.S.
$363,700±$20kLowest
9% above U.S.
$533,900±$36k
60% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,407±$284
about the U.S. average
$1,371±$89Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,821±$860Highest
29% above U.S.
Hanson and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,785Highest
182% above U.S.
$3,683Lowest
18% above U.S.
$6,402
105% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.7%±25.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±24
U.S.: 51.1%
69%±33.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanson and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
14% above U.S.
29 minLowest
8% above U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
Work from home
12.5%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
7.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Middleton 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 #71 of 282 in MA #10 of 133 in ME #149 of 282 in MA
School district Middleton RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences Whitman-Hanson
High school in town None in town Gray-New Gloucester High School Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.5Lowest
14.7Highest
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.