Compare towns
Gorham vs Brewer 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
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
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 | Gorham | Brewer | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
9,652 |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
40.1±4.8Highest 10% below ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
| Brewer and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3Lowest 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+ | 17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Brewer and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
35%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$66,613±$9kLowest 11% below 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 | $460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$245,300±$21kLowest 17% below 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 | $1,680±$355 47% above ME |
$1,086±$54Lowest 5% below 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 | $4,825 59% above ME |
$3,374Lowest 11% above ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Brewer and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 10% above ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #32 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Brewer Public Schools | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Brewer High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
14.0Highest |
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.