Compare towns
Lee vs Topsham vs Gray
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Lee | Topsham | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
9,706Highest |
8,429 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
| Topsham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
| Lee and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
| Gray and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Topsham 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 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.