gandalf as a maia

[Rumil]

I'd guess that the reactions of most humans, hobbits and dwarves (without special knowledge) to Gandalf would be initially that he was simply a wise old man. The next problem facing the 'unlearned Gandalf considerers' would be that he was exceptionally long lived.

How would a typical inhabitant of say, Esgaroth, Gondor or Rohan react to this?

Firstly, Gandalf was a wanderer and may have appeared so infrequently that only folk memories of him existed in a certain town and therefore he could have been seen as the heir of 'original Gandalf'.

Secondly, a Numenorean, the knowledge of their long lifespan would be fairly widespread.

Third, an elf, which is implied by his name amogst the notherners. This may be easier to understand if we remember that in most human habitations (apart from Esgaroth) elves were never, or exceptionally rarely, seen.

I think the fourth likelihood is more believable. Everyone seems to classify Gandalf as a wizard, while not really knowing any details of what a wizard was. Would it not be natural for most folk to believe that he had secured longevity by 'magical' studies, sorcery or whatever? There is some backup for humans with 'magical' powers, Beorn, the Mouth of Sauron and the Nazgul in their early days come to mind. It also seems likely that the Mouth had managed to extend his lifespan. Maybe this was a reason that Denethor disliked Gandalf. The Gondorians had always been interested in magical life extension and Gandalf was refusing to tell the secret!

I guess fifth, sixth and seventh lielihoods are Maiar, Valar, or Unknown. I'd imagine that many went for the Unknown option but that few would go for fifth and sixth.