Compare towns
Gray vs Vinalhaven vs Wells vs Hermon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vinalhaven has the oldest population (median age 65.1).
Wells has the most expensive homes ($485k median).
Hermon has the most kids (21.6% 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 | Wells | Hermon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429 |
1,216Lowest |
11,713Highest |
6,727 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.8% ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
+19.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
65.1±3.9Highest 45% above ME |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
41.1±4.7Lowest 8% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 ME: 18.1% |
11.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
21.6%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hermon 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% |
50.4%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
20.4%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% ME: 36.2% |
45.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
37.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Gray and Hermon 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 |
$88,024±$11k 18% above ME |
$96,629±$22kHighest 29% above ME |
| Hermon 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 |
$428,400±$44k 44% above ME |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$333,600±$32kLowest 12% above ME |
| Wells and Vinalhaven 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 |
$1,350±$297 19% above ME |
$1,406±$202Highest 23% above ME |
| Hermon and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683Highest 21% above ME |
$3,598 19% above ME |
$3,215 6% above ME |
$2,761Lowest 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest ME: 48.4% |
53.6%±41.5 ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
28.2%±19.1Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% ME: 74.3% |
86.6% ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
75.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
2000Highest 23 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 16% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Vinalhaven and Wells 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 | #54 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Hermon Public Schools |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | — | Wells High School | Hermon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
— | 11.4Lowest |
14.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.