Compare towns
Columbia vs Dummer 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
Columbia has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Dummer has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Gray has the most expensive homes ($364k median).
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 | Columbia | Dummer | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 683 |
299Lowest |
8,429Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±10.1 33% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Dummer and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummer and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.9%±8.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Columbia and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Columbia and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,917±$13kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$91,250±$21k 13% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Gray and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,400±$29kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$242,200±$51k 27% below U.S. |
$363,700±$20kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $792±$333Lowest 44% below U.S. |
— | $1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,009Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$2,898 7% below U.S. |
$3,683Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 9.1%±95.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gray and Columbia 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 |
| High school in town | — | — | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.5 |
| 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.