Compare towns

Wells vs Hudson 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

Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Hudson has the most renters (26.8% rent).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k 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.

MeasureWellsHudsonGray
People
Population
11,713
20,077Highest
8,429Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+18%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±3.8Highest
38% above U.S.
42.9±1.7Lowest
10% above U.S.
43.4±4.5
12% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.3%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
19%±4
U.S.: 22%
Hudson and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.1%±2.3
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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±$11kLowest
9% above U.S.
$103,400±$13kHighest
28% above U.S.
$95,236±$8k
18% above U.S.
Hudson and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$485,300±$23k
46% above U.S.
$496,800±$22kHighest
49% above U.S.
$363,700±$20kLowest
9% above U.S.
Hudson and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,350±$297Lowest
4% below U.S.
$1,406±$82Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,371±$89
about the U.S. average
Hudson and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
$6,892Highest
121% above U.S.
$3,683
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.1%±19.6
U.S.: 51.1%
40.8%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1970Lowest
10 yrs older than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
4% above U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
29 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
17.8%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
19.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hudson and Wells 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 #224 of 282 in MA #10 of 133 in ME
School district Wells-Ogunquit CSD Hudson RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences
High school in town Wells High School Hudson High Gray-New Gloucester High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4
10.2Lowest
12.5Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.