Compare towns
Gorham vs Mapleton vs South Berwick vs Hampden
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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Hampden has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Mapleton | South Berwick | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
1,884Lowest |
7,670 |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4% ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
41.8±6Highest 7% below ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
| Mapleton and Hampden 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and Hampden 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% |
18.3%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Mapleton 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% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.8% ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$91,731±$25kLowest 23% above ME |
$99,572±$13k 33% above ME |
$111,959±$13k 50% above ME |
| Gorham and Hampden 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$428,300±$26k 44% above ME |
$301,300±$38k about the ME average |
| 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
$1,286±$317 13% 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1 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% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 10% above ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden and Gorham 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 | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Marshwood High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | 13.0 |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.