Compare towns
Gray vs Benson 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | Benson | Raymond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,429Highest |
784Lowest |
4,610 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
47.3±4.1 22% above U.S. |
| Benson and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Raymond and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Raymond 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% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Gray 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 18% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$88,194±$20k 9% above U.S. |
| Gray and Raymond 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. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$395,800±$42kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Raymond and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$965±$397Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Gray and Benson 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. |
$4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
$3,139Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±62.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Benson 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% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.3%±11.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Raymond and Benson 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 | — | #112 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town | 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.