Compare towns

Gray vs Newfields 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

Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).

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.

MeasureGrayNewfieldsBrewer
People
Population
8,429
2,023Lowest
9,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.4±4.5
12% above U.S.
44.1±1.8Highest
13% above U.S.
40.1±4.8Lowest
3% above U.S.
Newfields and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±4
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6Lowest
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%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.4%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brewer 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%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2
U.S.: 6.4%
7.7%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brewer and Newfields 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.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$66,613±$9kLowest
17% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$363,700±$20k
9% above U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$245,300±$21kLowest
26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,371±$89
about the U.S. average
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$1,086±$54Lowest
23% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,683
18% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$3,374Lowest
8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8Lowest
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
17 minLowest
36% below U.S.
Work from home
12.3%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 Newfields 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 Our Story 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.