Compare towns

Steep Falls vs Gray vs Parsonsfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Steep Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Gray has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Parsonsfield has the most kids (25% 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.

MeasureSteep FallsGrayParsonsfield
People
Population
1,861
8,429Highest
1,715Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.4%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+6.5%
ME: +2.6%
-5.6%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
44.1±6.5
about the ME average
43.4±4.5Lowest
3% below ME
44.3±5.9Highest
about the ME average
Parsonsfield and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.9%±9.7
ME: 18.1%
19%±4Lowest
ME: 18.1%
25%±5.7Highest
ME: 18.1%
Parsonsfield and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
9.7%±5.9Lowest
ME: 22.4%
19.3%±4Highest
ME: 22.4%
18%±3.6
ME: 22.4%
Gray and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
14.5%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
44.8%Highest
ME: 36.2%
21.8%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±3.8
ME: 5.8%
5.4%±2.2Highest
ME: 5.8%
1.1%±0.9Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Gray and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,280±$33k
7% above ME
$95,236±$8kHighest
27% above ME
$72,045±$18kLowest
4% below ME
Gray and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$243,400±$31kLowest
18% below ME
$363,700±$20kHighest
23% above ME
$272,100±$21k
8% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,516±$1kHighest
33% above ME
$1,371±$89
20% above ME
$1,185±$312Lowest
4% above ME
Steep Falls and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,273
8% above ME
$3,683Highest
21% above ME
$2,350Lowest
23% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.4%±36.1
ME: 48.4%
56.4%±24Lowest
ME: 48.4%
78.2%±35Highest
ME: 48.4%
Parsonsfield and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.2%
ME: 10.7%
3.5%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
12%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.2%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
82.4%
ME: 74.3%
86.4%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970Lowest
7 yrs older than ME
1983Highest
6 yrs newer than ME
1977
same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
25% above ME
29 minLowest
16% above ME
48 minHighest
97% above ME
Work from home
4%±4.9Lowest
ME: 15.9%
12.3%±3.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
5.1%±4.2
ME: 15.9%
Gray and Parsonsfield 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 — RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences —
High school 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

ME 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.