Compare towns
Gorham vs Plainfield 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%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Plainfield | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
2,522Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Highest about the U.S. average |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
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%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Plainfield 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. |
$1,674±$181Lowest 18% above 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. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 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 |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham and Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Plainfield School District | 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 |
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.