Compare towns

Wells vs Gray vs Newburgh

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Gray has the highest household income ($95k).
Newburgh has the most affordable homes ($245k 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.

MeasureWellsGrayNewburgh
People
Population
11,713Highest
8,429
1,475Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+18%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+6.5%
ME: +2.6%
+2.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
53.6±3.8Highest
20% above ME
43.4±4.5Lowest
3% below ME
45.8±5.7
about the ME average
Wells and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18%±3.4Lowest
ME: 18.1%
19%±4Highest
ME: 18.1%
18.8%±3.6
ME: 18.1%
Gray and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31%±3.3Highest
ME: 22.4%
19.3%±4Lowest
ME: 22.4%
21.4%±2.4
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.3%
ME: 36.2%
44.8%Highest
ME: 36.2%
29.9%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5
ME: 5.8%
5.4%±2.2Highest
ME: 5.8%
4.3%±2.7Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Gray and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$88,024±$11k
18% above ME
$95,236±$8kHighest
27% above ME
$76,750±$10kLowest
about the ME average
Gray and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$485,300±$23kHighest
64% above ME
$363,700±$20k
23% above ME
$244,600±$20kLowest
18% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,350±$297
19% above ME
$1,371±$89Highest
20% above ME
$950±$219Lowest
17% below ME
Gray and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,215
6% above ME
$3,683Highest
21% above ME
$2,748Lowest
9% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.1%±19.6Lowest
ME: 48.4%
56.4%±24Highest
ME: 48.4%
42.9%±13.9
ME: 48.4%
Gray and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.8%
ME: 10.7%
3.5%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
11.7%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%Highest
ME: 74.3%
82.4%
ME: 74.3%
81.2%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
12 yrs newer than ME
1983Lowest
6 yrs newer than ME
1985
8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
12% above ME
29 min
16% above ME
30 minHighest
23% above ME
Work from home
17.8%±4.2Highest
ME: 15.9%
12.3%±3.5
ME: 15.9%
6.4%±3.3Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Wells 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 #22 of 133 in ME #10 of 133 in ME —
School district Wells-Ogunquit CSD RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences —
High school in town Wells High School Gray-New Gloucester High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Lowest
12.5Highest
—
On TownTapestry
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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.