Compare towns
Gray vs Wells vs White River Junction
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 highest household income ($95k).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
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 | Wells | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,429 |
11,713Highest |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gray and Wells 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% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,236±$8kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Gray and Wells 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. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Gray and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683 18% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$5,651Highest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and White River Junction 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells and White River Junction 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 | — |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | — |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Wells High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.