Compare towns
Gray vs Smithfield vs South Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Smithfield | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,429Highest |
856Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Gray and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,236±$8kLowest 27% above ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$99,572±$13k 33% above ME |
| Smithfield 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 23% above ME |
$242,800±$15kLowest 18% below ME |
$428,300±$26kHighest 44% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89 20% above ME |
$1,109±$358Lowest about the ME average |
$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683 21% above ME |
$2,866Lowest 6% below ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5 ME: 48.4% |
| 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% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 16% above ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield 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 | — | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | — | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.