Gray vs Portland
Gray, Maine versus Portland, Maine: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Gray edges out Portland on overall objective livability (53 vs 48 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Gray | Portland |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | — | $71k |
| Cost of Living | $59k | $59k |
| Home Value | $208k | $412k |
| Monthly Rent | $972 | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $179 | $15k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.09% | 1.30% |
| Income Tax | 7.10% | 7.10% |
| Sales Tax | 5.50% | 5.50% |
| Estimated total tax burden | — | 16.41% |
| Unemployment | 0.0% | 4.0% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 23°F | 23°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 70°F | 70°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.1 in | 50.5 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 84.0 in | 68.7 in |
| Sunny Days | 218 days | 218 days |
| Summer Humidity | 60°F | 60°F |
| Comfortable Days | 86 days | 89 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 12.9 | 10.3 |
| Air Quality | 35 AQI | 43 AQI |
| School Quality | 61.5 | 84.9 |
| Violent Crime | 569/100k | 1089/100k |
| Property Crime | 1070/100k | 1695/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 786 | 68,280 |
| Median Age | 40.1 | 37.6 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.11 | 0.31 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.65 | 0.94 |
| Political Leaning | D+37 | D+37 |
| White (%) | 94.3% | 81.8% |
| Black (%) | 4.3% | 8.6% |
| Hispanic (%) | 0.0% | 2.3% |
| Asian (%) | 0.0% | 3.4% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 1.4% | 4.0% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | — | 20 min |
| Walkability | 6.7/20 | 15.1/20 |
| Airport Distance | 111 mi | 99 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 64.4% | 89.4% |
| Amenities Nearby | 229.01 | 55.80 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Gray or Portland more affordable?
- Portland has the lower cost of living: its index is $59k, compared with Gray's $59k and Portland's $59k. Median rent is $972 in Gray versus $1k in Portland.
- Is Gray or Portland safer?
- Gray has the lower violent crime rate. Gray reports 569/100k and Portland reports 1089/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Gray or Portland?
- The median home value is $208k in Gray and $412k in Portland, so homes are more affordable in Gray.