Compare towns
Gorham vs Exeter 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%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k 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 | Exeter | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
1,093Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest 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% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter 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% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$84,408±$12kLowest 13% above 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 |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% 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 |
$995±$386Lowest 13% 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 |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 10% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest 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 | — | #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 |
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.