Compare towns

New Gloucester vs Bristol 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

New Gloucester has the most people working from home (14.2%).
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($258k median).
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).

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.

MeasureNew GloucesterBristolGray
People
Population
5,766
3,273Lowest
8,429Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.1±5.5Lowest
3% above U.S.
42.7±5.7
10% above U.S.
43.4±4.5Highest
12% above U.S.
Gray and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24.2%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
24.3%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
19%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Bristol and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.4%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
Bristol and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Gray and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$108,797±$12kHighest
35% above U.S.
$78,438±$10kLowest
about the U.S. average
$95,236±$8k
18% above U.S.
New Gloucester and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$357,100±$29k
7% above U.S.
$258,300±$63kLowest
22% below U.S.
$363,700±$20kHighest
9% above U.S.
Gray and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,150±$249Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,310±$97
7% below U.S.
$1,371±$89Highest
about the U.S. average
Gray and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,417Lowest
10% above U.S.
$4,162Highest
33% above U.S.
$3,683
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
24.7%±12Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.3%±14.2
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
5% above U.S.
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
14.2%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.8%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
New Gloucester 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 #65 of 133 in ME #79 of 120 in NH #10 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 15/MSAD 15 Newfound Area School District RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences
High school in town None in town Newfound Regional High School Gray-New Gloucester High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.5Lowest
12.5Highest
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.