Compare towns
Effingham vs Gray vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
Gray has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($367k 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 | Effingham | Gray | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912Lowest |
8,429Highest |
2,135 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
46±11.6 18% above U.S. |
| Effingham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Effingham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Andover and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,607±$14kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$95,236±$8kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$88,514±$27k 10% above U.S. |
| Gray and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,700±$30kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$366,500±$44kHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Andover and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,090±$121Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,211±$190 14% below U.S. |
| Gray and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 66% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,962Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Effingham 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 | — | #10 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Andover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town |
| 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.