Compare towns
Scarborough vs Ogunquit vs South Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Scarborough has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Scarborough | Ogunquit | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,215Highest |
1,379Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±2.7 9% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±2 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Scarborough and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,558±$21kHighest 79% above ME |
$114,259±$56k 53% above ME |
$99,572±$13kLowest 33% above ME |
| Scarborough and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $551,900±$39k 86% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$428,300±$26kLowest 44% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,956±$178Highest 72% above ME |
— | $1,726±$83Lowest 52% above ME |
| Scarborough and South Berwick 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 |
$4,473Lowest 47% above ME |
$4,956 63% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±13.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| South Berwick and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
3.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 24.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #35 of 133 in ME | — | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Scarborough Public Schools | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Scarborough High School | — | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
| 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.