Compare towns

Scarborough vs Hampton vs Gorham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Scarborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% 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.

MeasureScarboroughHamptonGorham
People
Population
23,215Highest
16,426Lowest
18,300
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+17%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.8±2.7
25% above U.S.
55.8±2.1Highest
43% above U.S.
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
16.6%±2
U.S.: 22%
11.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Gorham and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
30.9%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
57.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$133,558±$21kHighest
65% above U.S.
$95,233±$9kLowest
18% above U.S.
$112,312±$6k
39% above U.S.
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
66% above U.S.
$550,200±$39k
65% above U.S.
$460,900±$26kLowest
39% above U.S.
Scarborough and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,956±$178Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,628±$94Lowest
15% above U.S.
$1,680±$355
19% above 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
$5,978
92% above U.S.
$6,813Highest
118% above U.S.
$4,825Lowest
55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.9%±13.1
U.S.: 51.1%
56.8%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
24.6%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.7%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Scarborough and Hampton 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 #31 of 120 in NH #24 of 133 in ME
School district Scarborough Public Schools Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Gorham Public Schools
High school in town Scarborough High School Winnacunnet High School Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.0
10.1Lowest
12.9Highest
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.