Compare towns

Gray vs Cornish vs Cumberland

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 renters (17.6% rent).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Cumberland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.5%).

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.

MeasureGrayCornishCumberland
People
Population
8,429
1,816Lowest
8,647Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+17.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.4±4.5
12% above U.S.
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
41.9±4Lowest
8% above U.S.
Cornish 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%
14.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25.6%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Cumberland 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%
27.3%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
40.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
72.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Gray and Cumberland 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.
$91,821±$2kLowest
14% above U.S.
$173,894±$20kHighest
115% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$363,700±$20k
9% above U.S.
$296,000±$69kLowest
11% below U.S.
$616,800±$42kHighest
85% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,371±$89
about the U.S. average
$1,221±$227Lowest
14% below U.S.
$2,143±$759Highest
52% above U.S.
Cumberland and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,683Lowest
18% above U.S.
$5,796
86% above U.S.
$7,116Highest
128% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.5%±38.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.1%±31.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray and Cumberland 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%
4.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
24 min
8% below U.S.
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
Work from home
12.3%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
12%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #10 of 133 in ME — #25 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences Cornish School District RSU 51/MSAD 51
High school in town Gray-New Gloucester High School None in town Greely High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.5Highest
—
9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.