Compare towns
Gray vs Vinalhaven 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 the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Vinalhaven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Vinalhaven | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,429Highest |
1,216Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% ME: +2.6% |
+9.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
65.1±3.9Highest 45% above ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 ME: 18.1% |
11.2%±3.3Lowest 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% |
50.4%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% ME: 36.2% |
45.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest 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±$8k 27% above ME |
$72,963±$11kLowest about the ME average |
$99,572±$13kHighest 33% above ME |
| South Berwick 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 23% above ME |
$428,400±$44kHighest 44% above ME |
$428,300±$26k 44% above ME |
| Vinalhaven and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89 20% above ME |
$1,017±$924Lowest 11% below ME |
$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683 21% above ME |
$3,598Lowest 19% above ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest ME: 48.4% |
53.6%±41.5 ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Gray and Vinalhaven 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% |
7.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% ME: 74.3% |
86.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 16% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Vinalhaven 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 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.