Compare towns
Gray vs Topsham vs Harpswell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gray has the youngest population (median age 43.4).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
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 | Topsham | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,429 |
9,706Highest |
5,046Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
44.7±4 about the ME average |
62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Topsham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
50% ME: 36.2% |
52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Gray and Topsham 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 27% above ME |
$91,028±$10kLowest 22% above ME |
$96,250±$15kHighest 29% above ME |
| Harpswell 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 23% above ME |
$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89Highest 20% above ME |
$1,355±$642 19% above ME |
$1,348±$53Lowest 18% above ME |
| Gray and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683 21% above ME |
$4,259Highest 40% above ME |
$3,141Lowest 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Gray and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% ME: 74.3% |
78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 16% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Harpswell and Topsham 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 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Mt Ararat High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
12.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.