Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Gray vs Braintree vs Barnard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% 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.
| Measure | Bridgewater | Gray | Braintree | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
8,429Highest |
1,026 |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±8 47% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bridgewater and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$97,581±$19kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Barnard and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55k 34% below U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$402,600±$71kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Barnard and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778 40% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,372±$80Highest about the U.S. average |
| Barnard and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$6,038Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bridgewater and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnard and Braintree 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.