Compare towns
Gray vs Worcester 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 oldest population (median age 43.4).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
South Berwick has the most people working from home (17.6%).
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 | Worcester | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,429 |
207,055Highest |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Gray and South Berwick 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% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gray and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$99,572±$13kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| 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 9% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7k 13% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
$4,956Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Berwick and Gray 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | South High Community | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Lowest |
14.6Highest |
13.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.