Compare towns
Gray vs Saugus vs South Berwick
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).
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Saugus | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,429 |
28,773Highest |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Saugus 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% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick 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% |
22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$101,539±$3kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Saugus 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±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,049Highest 94% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and South Berwick 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% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Berwick and Saugus 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 | #194 of 282 in MA | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Saugus | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Saugus High | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Lowest |
15.5Highest |
13.0 |
| 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.