Compare towns

Wells vs Sutton 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%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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.

MeasureWellsSuttonGray
People
Population
11,713Highest
9,452
8,429Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+18%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±3.8Highest
38% above U.S.
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
43.4±4.5Lowest
12% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
19%±4
U.S.: 22%
Sutton 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%
18.8%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
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.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
$95,236±$8k
18% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$485,300±$23k
46% above U.S.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
$363,700±$20kLowest
9% above U.S.
Sutton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,350±$297
4% below U.S.
$1,190±$401Lowest
16% below U.S.
$1,371±$89Highest
about the U.S. average
Gray and Wells 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.
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
$3,683
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.1%±19.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray and Sutton 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%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
4% above U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
29 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
17.8%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sutton 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 #105 of 282 in MA #10 of 133 in ME
School district Wells-Ogunquit CSD Sutton RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences
High school in town Wells High School Sutton High School Gray-New Gloucester High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Lowest
12.6Highest
12.5
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.