Compare towns
Scarborough vs Orrington vs Gorham
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%).
Orrington has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
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 | Orrington | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,215Highest |
3,853Lowest |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±2.7 9% above ME |
49.5±3.3Highest 10% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
| Orrington and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±2 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±2.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.8%±5.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Scarborough and Orrington 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% |
44.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,558±$21kHighest 79% above ME |
$94,556±$10kLowest 27% above ME |
$112,312±$6k 50% 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 |
$309,000±$49kLowest 4% above ME |
$460,900±$26k 55% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,956±$178Highest 72% above ME |
$1,167±$135Lowest about the ME average |
$1,680±$355 47% 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 |
$2,823Lowest 7% below ME |
$4,825 59% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±13.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.9%±20.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Scarborough and Gorham 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% |
6.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below ME |
21 min 13% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
| Work from home | 24.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 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 | #41 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Scarborough Public Schools | Orrington Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | Scarborough High School | None in town | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| 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.