Compare towns
Stark vs Gray vs Stratford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stark has the oldest population (median age 58.8).
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Stratford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Stark | Gray | Stratford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 419Lowest |
8,429Highest |
950 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.8±3.6Highest 51% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
49.8±16.8 28% above U.S. |
| Stark and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±7.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratford and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stark and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,750±$23k 11% below U.S. |
$95,236±$8kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$49,583±$14kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Gray and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $197,700±$34k 41% below U.S. |
$363,700±$20kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$161,100±$48kLowest 52% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
$775±$264Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,636 15% below U.S. |
$3,683Highest 18% above U.S. |
$2,512Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±53.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stark and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
23.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stark 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 | Stark School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Stratford School District |
| 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.