Compare towns
Marlow vs Gray vs Alstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlow has the highest household income ($110k).
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Marlow | Gray | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 855Lowest |
8,429Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7 36% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Marlow and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,455±$12kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Marlow and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,400±$49k about the U.S. average |
$363,700±$20kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Gray and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Gray and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,826Highest 87% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,322 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gray and Alstead 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 | Marlow School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 4 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.