What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).

Alfred has the most affordable homes ($342k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Gray	Alfred
People
Population	8,429Highest	3,125Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Highest ME: +2.6%	+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME	44.9±5.3Highest about the ME average
	Alfred and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19%±4Highest ME: 18.1%	17.7%±6.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Gray and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±4Lowest ME: 22.4%	25.4%±5.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Alfred and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	25.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%	1.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Gray and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,236±$8kHighest 27% above ME	$82,321±$18kLowest 10% above ME
	Gray and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,700±$20kHighest 23% above ME	$342,300±$38kLowest 15% above ME
	Gray and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,371±$89Highest 20% above ME	$1,035±$432Lowest 9% below ME
	Gray and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,683Highest 21% above ME	$3,543Lowest 17% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±24Lowest ME: 48.4%	82.2%±29.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Alfred and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983 6 yrs newer than ME	1983 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 16% above ME	28 minLowest 13% above ME
Work from home	12.3%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9%	7.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Gray and Alfred 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	#74 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences	RSU 57/MSAD 57
High school in town	Gray-New Gloucester High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.