Compare towns
Scarborough vs Wells vs Gorham vs Old Orchard Beach
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 most people working from home (24.6%).
Wells has the most homeowners (90.1%).
Gorham has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Old Orchard Beach has the most affordable homes ($367k 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.
| Measure | Scarborough | Wells | Gorham | Old Orchard Beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,215Highest |
11,713 |
18,300 |
9,244Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17% ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9% ME: +2.6% |
+3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±2.7 9% above ME |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
58±3.5Highest 29% above ME |
| Old Orchard Beach and Wells 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% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
6.5%±2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
33.5%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Old Orchard Beach and Wells 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% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
42.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
7%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,558±$21kHighest 79% above ME |
$88,024±$11k 18% above ME |
$112,312±$6k 50% above ME |
$60,050±$11kLowest 20% below 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 |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
$460,900±$26k 55% above ME |
$366,600±$38kLowest 24% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,956±$178Highest 72% above ME |
$1,350±$297 19% above ME |
$1,680±$355 47% above ME |
$1,246±$182Lowest 9% 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 |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
$4,825 59% above ME |
$3,426 13% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±13.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.7%±15 ME: 48.4% |
| Scarborough and Old Orchard Beach 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% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4% ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
68.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
22 min 11% below ME |
| Work from home | 24.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
15%±4.4Lowest 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | #67 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Scarborough Public Schools | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 23 |
| High school in town | Scarborough High School | Wells High School | Gorham High School | Old Orchard Beach High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
11.4 |
12.9Highest |
7.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.