Compare towns
Biddeford vs Gorham vs South Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% 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.
| Measure | Biddeford | Gorham | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,498Highest |
18,300 |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
39.4±2.9Highest 12% below ME |
39±2.5 13% below ME |
| Gorham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Gorham and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Gorham and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,333±$4kLowest 3% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$99,572±$13k 33% above ME |
| Gorham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,600±$25kLowest 34% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$428,300±$26k 44% above ME |
| Gorham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100Lowest 13% above ME |
$1,680±$355 47% above ME |
$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
| South Berwick and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401Lowest 45% above ME |
$4,825 59% above ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| South Berwick and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 4% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and South Berwick 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 | #111 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | Gorham High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Highest |
12.9Lowest |
13.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.