What stands out worked out from the figures below

Scarborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).

Seabrook has the most affordable homes ($444k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Scarborough	Seabrook
People
Population	23,215Highest	8,427Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+17%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±2.7Lowest 25% above U.S.	54±1.9Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.6%±2Highest U.S.: 22%	14.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Scarborough and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31.5%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Seabrook 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Scarborough and Seabrook 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 65% above U.S.	$84,349±$15kLowest 4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$551,900±$39kHighest 66% above U.S.	$443,500±$40kLowest 33% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,956±$178Highest 38% above U.S.	$1,542±$174Lowest 9% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,978Highest 92% above U.S.	$5,785Lowest 85% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.9%±13.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	50.4%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Scarborough and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1986Lowest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.	21 minHighest 21% below U.S.
Work from home	24.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#35 of 133 in ME	#114 of 120 in NH
School district	Scarborough Public Schools	Seabrook School District
High school in town	Scarborough High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.