Compare towns
Gray vs Newfields vs Topsham 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).
Topsham has the oldest population (median age 44.7).
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.
| Measure | Gray | Newfields | Topsham | Hermon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429 |
2,023Lowest |
9,706Highest |
6,727 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% 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. |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.1±4.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Topsham 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%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hermon and Topsham 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% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Hermon 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% |
50% 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% |
4.9%±1.8 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. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% 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. |
$360,800±$20k 8% 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. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% 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. |
$4,259 37% 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% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.2%±19.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Newfields 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% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as 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 11% 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% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #10 of 133 in ME | — | #66 of 133 in ME | #54 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Newfields School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Hermon Public Schools |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town | Mt Ararat High School | Hermon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
— | 12.2Lowest |
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.