Compare towns

Gray vs Lowell 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 the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% 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.

MeasureGrayLowellRaymond
People
Population
8,429
118,368Highest
4,610Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.4±4.5
12% above U.S.
35.6±0.8Lowest
8% below U.S.
47.3±4.1Highest
22% above U.S.
Raymond 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%
21.7%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±4.9
U.S.: 22%
Lowell and Raymond 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%
12.6%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.2%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Raymond 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%
30%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
9.7%±0.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,236±$8kHighest
18% above U.S.
$78,658±$4kLowest
about the U.S. average
$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±$20kLowest
9% above U.S.
$429,200±$11kHighest
29% above U.S.
$395,800±$42k
19% above U.S.
Lowell and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,371±$89
about the U.S. average
$1,625±$40Highest
15% above U.S.
$965±$397Lowest
32% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,683
18% above U.S.
$4,499Highest
44% above U.S.
$3,139Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.4%±3.8
U.S.: 51.1%
38.3%±62.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray and Lowell 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%
5.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
43.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1953Lowest
27 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
8% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
37 minHighest
40% above U.S.
Work from home
12.3%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
10.6%±1.3Lowest
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 #255 of 282 in MA #112 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences Lowell RSU 14
High school in town Gray-New Gloucester High School Lowell High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.5Lowest
14.8Highest
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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.