Compare towns
Gray vs Mapleton vs Rye vs Union
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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Mapleton | Rye | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429Highest |
1,884Lowest |
5,611 |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rye 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683 18% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Rye 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #10 of 133 in ME | — | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Rye School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.