Compare towns
Eliot 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
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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 | Eliot | Gorham | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
18,300Highest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 13% above ME |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest 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+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 36% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$99,572±$13kLowest 33% above ME |
| Gorham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 68% above ME |
$460,900±$26k 55% above ME |
$428,300±$26kLowest 44% above ME |
| Eliot and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 71% above ME |
$1,680±$355Lowest 47% above ME |
$1,726±$83 52% above ME |
| Eliot and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 50% above ME |
$4,825 59% above ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Eliot and South Berwick 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% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 9% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| 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.