Compare towns
Gray vs Barton vs South Berwick
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
South Berwick has the most expensive homes ($428k 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 | Gray | Barton | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,429Highest |
730Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
40±5.5 about the U.S. average |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Gray and Barton 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% |
24.1%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Barton 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% |
21.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and South Berwick 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. |
$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$99,572±$13kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| South Berwick 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±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683 18% above U.S. |
$3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,956Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barton and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Berwick and Barton 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | — | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
| 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.