Compare towns
Gray vs Hermon vs Needham
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 oldest population (median age 43.4).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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.
| Measure | Gray | Hermon | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,429 |
6,727Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+19.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.1±4.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Gray and Needham 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% |
21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham 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% |
20.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hermon 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% |
37.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$96,629±$22k 20% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$333,600±$32kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,406±$202 about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683 18% above U.S. |
$2,761Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.2%±19.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Needham 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% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
2000Highest 20 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #10 of 133 in ME | #54 of 133 in ME | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Hermon Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Hermon High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Lowest |
14.6Highest |
— |
| 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.