Compare towns
Conway vs Ellsworth 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
Conway has the oldest population (median age 55).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Gray has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Conway | Ellsworth | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,141Highest |
8,657 |
8,429Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55±4.1Highest 41% above U.S. |
43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gray and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,385±$8kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$77,375±$18k 4% below U.S. |
$95,236±$8kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Gray and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $314,000±$43k 6% below U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$363,700±$20kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Gray and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,095±$141 23% below U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,087Highest 31% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±13.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Conway 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 | #76 of 120 in NH | #63 of 133 in ME | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Conway School District | Ellsworth Public Schools | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Kennett High School | Ellsworth High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
12.7Highest |
12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 5 photos → | 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.