Compare towns
Putnam vs Gray vs Dresden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Dresden has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Putnam | Gray | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540Lowest |
8,429Highest |
551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-17.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
59±2.8Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Dresden and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gray and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$64,180±$9kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Gray and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$363,700±$20kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$191,500±$48kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,066±$109Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674 18% above U.S. |
$3,683Highest 18% above U.S. |
$3,138Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±48.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gray and Putnam 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 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | — |
| 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.