Compare towns
Eliot vs Gorham vs Ogunquit vs Scarborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Scarborough has the highest household income ($134k).
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 | Eliot | Gorham | Ogunquit | Scarborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
18,300 |
1,379Lowest |
23,215Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+17% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 13% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
48.8±2.7 9% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±2 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.7%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
57.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kLowest 36% above ME |
$112,312±$6k 50% above ME |
$114,259±$56k 53% above ME |
$133,558±$21kHighest 79% above ME |
| Scarborough and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 68% above ME |
$460,900±$26kLowest 55% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$551,900±$39k 86% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 71% above ME |
$1,680±$355Lowest 47% above ME |
— | $1,956±$178Highest 72% above ME |
| Scarborough and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 50% above ME |
$4,825 59% above ME |
$4,473Lowest 47% above ME |
$5,978Highest 97% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
51.9%±13.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Eliot and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 9% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
19 minLowest 21% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
24.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | — | #35 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Gorham Public Schools | — | Scarborough Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | — | Scarborough High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
— | 11.0Lowest |
| 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.