Compare towns
Gray vs Northfield vs Raymond
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%).
Northfield has the highest household income ($103k).
Raymond has the most people working from home (32.3%).
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 | Northfield | Raymond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,429Highest |
2,872Lowest |
4,610 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
48.9±4.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
47.3±4.1 22% above U.S. |
| Northfield and Raymond 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% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Raymond and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northfield and Raymond 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% |
42.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Northfield 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. |
$103,375±$10kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$88,194±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Northfield 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±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$375,800±$31k 13% above U.S. |
$395,800±$42kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Raymond and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,142±$200 19% below U.S. |
$965±$397Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Gray and Northfield 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. |
$4,594Highest 47% above U.S. |
$3,139Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±62.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Northfield 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% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.3%±11.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Raymond and Northfield 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 | #231 of 282 in MA | #112 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Pioneer Valley | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Pioneer Valley Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.