Compare towns
Gray vs Ayer vs Raymond
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gray has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Raymond has the most people working from home (32.3%).
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.
| Measure | Gray | Ayer | Raymond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,429 |
8,645Highest |
4,610Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.3±4.1Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Raymond and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Raymond 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$88,194±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$395,800±$42k 19% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$965±$397Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683 18% above U.S. |
$5,057Highest 62% above U.S. |
$3,139Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±62.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.3%±11.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Raymond and Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #112 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Ayer Shirley School District | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
11.5Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 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.