Compare towns
Scarborough vs Rye 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%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Gorham has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
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 | Rye | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,215Highest |
5,611Lowest |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±2.7 25% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,558±$21k 65% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Rye and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $551,900±$39k 66% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,956±$178Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Scarborough and Rye 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. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±13.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Scarborough and Rye 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% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 24.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Scarborough 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Scarborough Public Schools | Rye School District | 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 |
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.