Compare towns
Gray vs Castleton vs New Gloucester vs Topsham
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 most expensive homes ($364k median).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
New Gloucester has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Castleton | New Gloucester | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429 |
4,453Lowest |
5,766 |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.1±5.5 3% above U.S. |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Topsham and Gray 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% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| New Gloucester and Topsham 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% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Castleton 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% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$108,797±$12kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
| New Gloucester 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±$20kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$357,100±$29k 7% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Gray and Topsham 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 |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,150±$249 19% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Gray and Topsham 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. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,417 10% above U.S. |
$4,259Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.7%±12Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsham and New Gloucester 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #65 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
— | — | 12.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.