Compare towns

Gray vs Gardner 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%).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
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.

MeasureGrayGardnerRaymond
People
Population
8,429
21,148Highest
4,610Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.4±4.5Lowest
12% above U.S.
43.7±2.3
12% above U.S.
47.3±4.1Highest
22% above U.S.
Raymond and Gardner 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%
18.3%±2.3Lowest
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%
19.6%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
22.2%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Raymond and Gardner 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%
23.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Gray and Gardner 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.
$67,518±$8kLowest
16% below U.S.
$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.
$301,600±$20kLowest
9% 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
$1,109±$51
22% below U.S.
$965±$397Lowest
32% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,683
18% above U.S.
$4,150Highest
33% above U.S.
$3,139Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.7%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
38.3%±62.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray and Gardner 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%
13.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
58.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
8% above U.S.
31 min
16% above U.S.
37 minHighest
40% above U.S.
Work from home
12.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
32.3%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #10 of 133 in ME #273 of 282 in MA #112 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences Gardner RSU 14
High school in town Gray-New Gloucester High School Gardner High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.5Lowest
13.5Highest
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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.