Compare towns
Groton vs Gray vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has the most homeowners (94.4%).
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Topsham has the most people working from home (14.2%).
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 | Groton | Gray | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 967Lowest |
8,429Highest |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8 17% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Topsham and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Gray and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,250±$14k 4% below U.S. |
$95,236±$8kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$72,308±$60kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Gray and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$70k 27% below U.S. |
$363,700±$20kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$222,900±$56kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
$908±$398 36% below U.S. |
| Gray and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,659Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
$4,006Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsham and Groton 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 | — |
| School district | — | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | — | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
— |
| 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.