Compare towns
Sheldon vs Gray vs Proctor vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
Gray has the most expensive homes ($364k median).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Sheldon | Gray | Proctor | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
8,429Highest |
1,794Lowest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
| Gray and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Proctor and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$95,236±$8kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$87,019±$22k 8% above U.S. |
| Gray and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$363,700±$20kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$320,600±$22k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,029±$202Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,056±$441 25% below U.S. |
| Gray and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
$4,032 29% above U.S. |
$4,816Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5Highest |
8.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.