Compare towns
Scarborough vs Gorham vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Scarborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Gorham has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k 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 | Scarborough | Gorham | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,215Highest |
18,300 |
9,706Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±2.7Highest 9% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
44.7±4 about the ME average |
| Scarborough and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±2.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Scarborough and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
50% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,558±$21kHighest 79% above ME |
$112,312±$6k 50% above ME |
$91,028±$10kLowest 22% 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 | $551,900±$39kHighest 86% above ME |
$460,900±$26k 55% above ME |
$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,956±$178Highest 72% above ME |
$1,680±$355 47% above ME |
$1,355±$642Lowest 19% above ME |
| Scarborough and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978Highest 97% above ME |
$4,825 59% above ME |
$4,259Lowest 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±13.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Scarborough and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.9% 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 | 19 minLowest 21% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 24.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Scarborough 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 | #35 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Scarborough Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Scarborough High School | Gorham High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
12.9Highest |
12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.