Compare towns

Gray vs Newfields vs Saco vs Hermon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).

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.

MeasureGrayNewfieldsSacoHermon
People
Population
8,429
2,023Lowest
20,819Highest
6,727
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+19.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.4±4.5
12% above U.S.
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
44.9±1.5Highest
15% above U.S.
41.1±4.7Lowest
6% above U.S.
Saco and Newfields 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%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.6%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Hermon 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%
18.5%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hermon 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%
43.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields 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.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$92,241±$11kLowest
14% above U.S.
$96,629±$22k
20% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$363,700±$20k
9% above U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$413,100±$17k
24% above U.S.
$333,600±$32kLowest
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,371±$89
about the U.S. average
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$1,249±$385Lowest
12% below U.S.
$1,406±$202
about the U.S. average
Newfields and Hermon 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.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,807
54% above U.S.
$2,761Lowest
11% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±14
U.S.: 51.1%
28.2%±19.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray and Saco 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%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1991
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
2000Highest
20 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
24 min
10% below U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
12.3%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
8.8%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfields and Saco 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 — #38 of 133 in ME #54 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences Newfields School District Saco Public Schools Hermon Public Schools
High school in town Gray-New Gloucester High School None in town None in town Hermon High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.5Lowest
— —
14.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.