Compare towns
Orwell vs Gray vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k 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 | Orwell | Gray | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
8,429Highest |
957Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Orange and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orwell and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$95,236±$8kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
$363,700±$20kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$222,000±$22kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Gray and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,330±$153 6% below U.S. |
| Gray and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914Highest 25% above U.S. |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
$3,545Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orange and Orwell 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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 | 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.