Compare towns
Gray vs Dedham vs New Gloucester vs Hermon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
New Gloucester has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
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 | Dedham | New Gloucester | Hermon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429 |
25,237Highest |
5,766Lowest |
6,727 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+19.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
40.1±5.5Lowest 3% above U.S. |
41.1±4.7 6% above U.S. |
| Dedham 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% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| New Gloucester and Hermon 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% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Hermon 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% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham 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±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$108,797±$12k 35% above U.S. |
$96,629±$22k 20% above U.S. |
| Dedham and New Gloucester 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. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$357,100±$29k 7% above U.S. |
$333,600±$32kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,150±$249Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,406±$202 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683 18% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$3,417 10% above U.S. |
$2,761Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.7%±12Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.2%±19.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
2000Highest 20 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #65 of 133 in ME | #54 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Dedham | RSU 15/MSAD 15 | Hermon Public Schools |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Dedham High | None in town | Hermon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
10.4Lowest |
— | 14.6Highest |
| 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.