Compare towns
Gorham vs Spencer 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%).
Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Spencer | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
12,008 |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Spencer 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% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest 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% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Gorham and South Berwick 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. |
$382,000±$22kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| 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 19% above U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below 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 | $4,825 55% above U.S. |
$4,387Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$4,956Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Spencer 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% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 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 |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Lowest 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Spencer-E Brookfield | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | David Prouty High | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
9.9Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| 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.