Compare towns

Fayette vs Gray vs Readfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fayette has the oldest population (median age 58.8).
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Readfield has the most people working from home (24.3%).

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.

MeasureFayetteGrayReadfield
People
Population
1,383Lowest
8,429Highest
2,651
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.8%
ME: +2.6%
+6.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
0%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
58.8±4.2Highest
31% above ME
43.4±4.5Lowest
3% below ME
48.1±7.6
7% above ME
Fayette and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.7%±4.4Lowest
ME: 18.1%
19%±4Highest
ME: 18.1%
18.7%±3.9
ME: 18.1%
Gray and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
37.2%±5.4Highest
ME: 22.4%
19.3%±4Lowest
ME: 22.4%
22.3%±4.5
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.3%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
44.8%
ME: 36.2%
48.8%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5.4%±2.2Highest
ME: 5.8%
3.3%±2
ME: 5.8%
Gray and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$59,500±$17kLowest
20% below ME
$95,236±$8kHighest
27% above ME
$86,504±$8k
16% above ME
Gray and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$257,600±$48kLowest
13% below ME
$363,700±$20kHighest
23% above ME
$326,400±$20k
10% above ME
Gray and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$983±$816Lowest
14% below ME
$1,371±$89Highest
20% above ME
$1,125±$844
about the ME average
Gray and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,160Lowest
4% above ME
$3,683Highest
21% above ME
$3,392
12% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.8%±43.7
ME: 48.4%
56.4%±24Highest
ME: 48.4%
31.3%±100Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Gray and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.9%Highest
ME: 10.7%
3.5%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
5%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.7%
ME: 74.3%
82.4%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
89.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
9 yrs newer than ME
1983
6 yrs newer than ME
1979Lowest
2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
33% above ME
29 minLowest
16% above ME
30 min
20% above ME
Work from home
22.1%±7.1
ME: 15.9%
12.3%±3.5Lowest
ME: 15.9%
24.3%±14.9Highest
ME: 15.9%
Readfield and Fayette 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 #20 of 133 in ME
School district Fayette Public Schools RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences RSU 38
High school in town None in town Gray-New Gloucester High School Maranacook Community High Sch
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.5Highest
11.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

ME 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.