Compare towns
Gorham vs Scarborough vs Upton
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 the most affordable homes ($461k median).
Scarborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Scarborough | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300 |
23,215Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.8±2.7Highest 25% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Scarborough and Upton 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% |
16.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scarborough and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$133,558±$21k 65% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$551,900±$39k 66% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Upton and Scarborough 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. |
$1,956±$178Highest 38% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Scarborough 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. |
$5,978 92% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Scarborough 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% |
4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Scarborough and Upton 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 | #35 of 133 in ME | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Scarborough Public Schools | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Scarborough High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.0Lowest |
11.2 |
| 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.