Compare towns
Gray vs New Gloucester vs Pepperell
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%).
New Gloucester has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k 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 | New Gloucester | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,429 |
5,766Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
40.1±5.5Lowest 3% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Gray and Pepperell 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% |
24.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| New Gloucester and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gray and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell 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±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$108,797±$12k 35% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and New Gloucester 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. |
$357,100±$29kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,150±$249Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Gray and Pepperell 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. |
$3,417Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.7%±12Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Pepperell 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and New Gloucester 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 | #65 of 133 in ME | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | RSU 15/MSAD 15 | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | 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 |
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.