Compare towns
South Berwick vs Lebanon vs Hampden 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
South Berwick has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k median).
Gray has the oldest population (median age 43.4).
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 | South Berwick | Lebanon | Hampden | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,670Lowest |
14,999Highest |
7,896 |
8,429 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Highest 12% 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 | 26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lebanon and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Hampden and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
| Lebanon and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,956 59% above U.S. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$3,694 18% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | #29 of 120 in NH | #6 of 133 in ME | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Lebanon School District | RSU 22 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | Lebanon High School | Hampden Academy | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0 |
11.7Lowest |
14.8Highest |
12.5 |
| 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.