Compare towns
Gray vs Stratham 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).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k 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 | Stratham | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,429Highest |
7,754 |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Gray and Stratham 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%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stratham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 18% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.