Compare towns
Gorham vs Scarborough vs Wayne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Scarborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Wayne has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
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 | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300 |
23,215Highest |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9% ME: +2.6% |
+17%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
48.8±2.7 9% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
| Wayne and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±2 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.7%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Scarborough 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 ME: 36.2% |
57.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
48.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 50% above ME |
$133,558±$21kHighest 79% above ME |
$93,194±$26kLowest 25% above ME |
| Scarborough 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±$26k 55% above ME |
$551,900±$39kHighest 86% above ME |
$362,800±$29kLowest 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 47% above ME |
$1,956±$178Highest 72% above ME |
$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
| Scarborough 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 |
$5,978Highest 97% above ME |
$3,289Lowest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
51.9%±13.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Scarborough and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.4% ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% ME: 74.3% |
77.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 10% above ME |
19 minLowest 21% below ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
24.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Scarborough 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 | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Scarborough Public Schools | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Scarborough High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.