Compare towns

Gray vs Grantham vs Brewer

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).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).

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.

MeasureGrayGranthamBrewer
People
Population
8,429
3,465Lowest
9,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+14%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.4±4.5
12% above U.S.
50.4±7.5Highest
30% above U.S.
40.1±4.8Lowest
3% above U.S.
Grantham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±6.6
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brewer and Grantham 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%
17%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.4%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brewer and Gray 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%
59.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.7%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brewer 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±$8k
18% above U.S.
$106,403±$54kHighest
32% above U.S.
$66,613±$9kLowest
17% below U.S.
Grantham 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.
$343,100±$39k
3% above U.S.
$245,300±$21kLowest
26% below U.S.
Gray and Grantham 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
—
$1,086±$54Lowest
23% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,683
18% above U.S.
$7,605Highest
144% above U.S.
$3,374Lowest
8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
—
55.7%±13.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray and Brewer 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%
0%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
100%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
23 min
15% below U.S.
17 minLowest
36% below U.S.
Work from home
12.3%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
13.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Grantham and Gray 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 #6 of 120 in NH #32 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences Grantham School District Brewer Public Schools
High school in town Gray-New Gloucester High School None in town Brewer High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.5Lowest
—
14.0Highest
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.