Compare towns

Bristol vs Gray vs New Gloucester

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most affordable homes ($258k median).
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
New Gloucester has the most people working from home (14.2%).

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.

MeasureBristolGrayNew Gloucester
People
Population
3,273Lowest
8,429Highest
5,766
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.7±5.7
10% above U.S.
43.4±4.5Highest
12% above U.S.
40.1±5.5Lowest
3% above U.S.
Gray and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24.3%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
19%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24.2%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
Bristol and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
15.4%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bristol and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Gray and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,438±$10kLowest
about the U.S. average
$95,236±$8k
18% above U.S.
$108,797±$12kHighest
35% above U.S.
New Gloucester and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$258,300±$63kLowest
22% below U.S.
$363,700±$20kHighest
9% above U.S.
$357,100±$29k
7% above U.S.
Gray and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,310±$97
7% below U.S.
$1,371±$89Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,150±$249Lowest
19% below U.S.
Gray and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,162Highest
33% above U.S.
$3,683
18% above U.S.
$3,417Lowest
10% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.3%±14.2
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
24.7%±12Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% above U.S.
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
11.8%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
14.2%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
New Gloucester 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 #79 of 120 in NH #10 of 133 in ME #65 of 133 in ME
School district Newfound Area School District RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences RSU 15/MSAD 15
High school in town Newfound Regional High School Gray-New Gloucester High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5Lowest
12.5Highest
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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.