Compare towns

Gray vs Springfield 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 youngest population (median age 43.4).
Springfield has the highest household income ($101k).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.

MeasureGraySpringfieldWells
People
Population
8,429
1,122Lowest
11,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+18%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.4±4.5Lowest
12% above U.S.
51.4±8.8
32% above U.S.
53.6±3.8Highest
38% above U.S.
Wells and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
Gray and Wells 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%
19.8%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
31%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Gray and Wells 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.
$100,893±$19kHighest
25% above U.S.
$88,024±$11kLowest
9% above U.S.
Springfield 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.
$384,100±$50k
15% above U.S.
$485,300±$23kHighest
46% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,371±$89Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,096±$217Lowest
22% 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.
$5,946Highest
91% above U.S.
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.9%±64.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.1%±19.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray and Wells 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%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Lowest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
8% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
28 minLowest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
12.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±11.6
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Wells and Springfield 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 — #22 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences — Wells-Ogunquit CSD
High school in town Gray-New Gloucester High School — Wells High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.5Highest
—
11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.