Compare towns
Rye vs Ellsworth 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
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Gray has the most kids (19% under 18).
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 | Rye | Ellsworth | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
8,657Highest |
8,429 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gray and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
| Rye and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #2 of 120 in NH | #63 of 133 in ME | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rye School District | Ellsworth Public Schools | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | None in town | Ellsworth High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
12.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.