Compare towns

Gray vs Ogunquit vs Pepperell vs Wells

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 the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Pepperell has the highest household income ($124k).

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.

MeasureGrayOgunquitPepperellWells
People
Population
8,429
1,379Lowest
11,663
11,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+18%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.4±4.5
12% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
42.4±3.3Lowest
9% above U.S.
53.6±3.8
38% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19%±4
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
Pepperell 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%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Wells 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%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
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±$8k
18% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$124,073±$12kHighest
54% above U.S.
$88,024±$11kLowest
9% above U.S.
Pepperell and Ogunquit 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.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$482,100±$14k
45% above U.S.
$485,300±$23k
46% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,371±$89Highest
about the U.S. average
—
$1,295±$238Lowest
8% below U.S.
$1,350±$297
4% below U.S.
Gray and Wells 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.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$6,698Highest
115% above U.S.
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.1%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
42.1%±19.6
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
8% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
28 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
12.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #10 of 133 in ME — #153 of 282 in MA #22 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences — North Middlesex Wells-Ogunquit CSD
High school in town Gray-New Gloucester High School — None in town Wells High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.5Highest
— —
11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.