Compare towns
Scarborough vs Meredith 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%).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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.
| Measure | Scarborough | Meredith | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,215Highest |
6,758Lowest |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±2.7 25% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±2 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest 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% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,558±$21kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% 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. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Scarborough and Meredith 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. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below 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 | $5,978Highest 92% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±13.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Scarborough and Meredith 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% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 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% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Scarborough and Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Scarborough Public Schools | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | Scarborough High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
11.1 |
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.