Compare towns
Gorham vs Durham vs South Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
10,681 |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Highest about the U.S. average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Gorham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$498,000±$45kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Durham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | — | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.