Compare towns
Gorham vs Buxton 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%).
Buxton has the most affordable homes ($357k 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 | Buxton | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
8,512 |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
45.5±3.9Highest about the ME average |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
| Buxton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest 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% |
19.2%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Buxton 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% |
30.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$100,144±$21k 34% above ME |
$99,572±$13kLowest 33% above ME |
| Gorham and Buxton 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 |
$356,800±$21kLowest 20% 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 | $1,680±$355 47% above ME |
$1,613±$266Lowest 42% 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 | $4,825 59% above ME |
$3,422Lowest 13% above ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
26.9%±26.5Lowest 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 | 3.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
2.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
3.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.3% ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 10% above ME |
34 minHighest 39% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±3.1Lowest 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 | #104 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | 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.