Compare towns
Gray vs Jackson 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
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
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.
| Measure | Gray | Jackson | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,429 |
897Lowest |
9,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer 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% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson and Brewer 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% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Lowest 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. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Jackson 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±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683 18% above U.S. |
$6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson 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 | — | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Jackson 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.