Compare towns
Gray vs Strafford vs Topsham
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).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Strafford | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,429 |
1,372Lowest |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Topsham 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% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Strafford 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. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Gray and Topsham 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. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsham and Strafford 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Strafford School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
— | 12.2Lowest |
| 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.