Compare towns
Orwell vs Gray vs Whiting
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 oldest population (median age 47.5).
Gray has the most expensive homes ($364k median).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
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 | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
8,429Highest |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 47.5±7Highest 22% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Orwell and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting and Orwell 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%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orwell and Gray 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% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Gray 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. |
$91,250±$38k 13% above U.S. |
| Gray and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
$363,700±$20kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$280,400±$36kLowest 16% 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 |
$1,204±$519 15% below U.S. |
| Gray and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 25% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,227Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orwell 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 | — | #10 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| 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.