Compare towns
Gray vs Castleton vs Rockingham 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 highest household income ($95k).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Rockingham has the most renters (38.3% rent).
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 | Rockingham | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429 |
4,453Lowest |
4,807 |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.5%Lowest 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 |
46.4±2.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Rockingham and Topsham 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% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Rockingham 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% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rockingham and Topsham 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% |
37.1%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% |
6.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,236±$8kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$70,857±$16kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
| Gray and Topsham 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±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$210,900±$14kLowest 37% below 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±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,062±$101Lowest 25% 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 |
$4,887Highest 57% above U.S. |
$4,259 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% |
46.7%±13.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older 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. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
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% |
17.9%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rockingham and Topsham 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 70 in VT | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Rockingham School District | 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.