Compare towns
Gorham vs Saugus 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%).
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k 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 | Saugus | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300 |
28,773Highest |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Saugus 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±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%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,049Highest 94% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Saugus 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% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4Lowest 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 | #194 of 282 in MA | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Saugus | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Saugus High | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
15.5Highest |
13.0 |
| 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.