Compare towns
Buxton vs Ogunquit vs South Berwick vs Gorham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buxton has the most affordable homes ($357k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Buxton | Ogunquit | South Berwick | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,512 |
1,379Lowest |
7,670 |
18,300Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9 about the ME average |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 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+ | 19.2%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.8% ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,144±$21k 34% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$99,572±$13kLowest 33% above ME |
$112,312±$6k 50% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,800±$21kLowest 20% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$428,300±$26k 44% above ME |
$460,900±$26k 55% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,613±$266Lowest 42% above ME |
— | $1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
$1,680±$355 47% 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 | $3,422Lowest 13% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
$4,825 59% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 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 | 2.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
3.2% ME: 10.7% |
3.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 39% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #104 of 133 in ME | — | #58 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Marshwood High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.0Highest |
12.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.