Compare towns
Gorham vs Upton vs Buxton 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%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Buxton has the most affordable homes ($357k 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 | Upton | Buxton | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
8,189 |
8,512 |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Upton and Buxton 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% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Buxton 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$100,144±$21k 24% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$356,800±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,613±$266 14% 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 | $4,825 55% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.9%±26.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Gorham 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #104 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
11.2Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.