Compare towns
Gray vs Randolph vs South Berwick vs Williston
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 homeowners (82.4%).
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Randolph | South Berwick | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429 |
4,843Lowest |
7,670 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williston 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% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Williston 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% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph and Williston 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% |
40.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Williston and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Williston and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,172±$173Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Williston and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Randolph 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% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and South Berwick 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | #58 of 133 in ME | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Randolph Union High School | Marshwood High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
9.4Lowest |
13.0Highest |
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| 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.