Compare towns
South Berwick vs Castleton vs Gray 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
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Gray has the oldest population (median age 43.4).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
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 | South Berwick | Castleton | Gray | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,670 |
4,453Lowest |
8,429 |
18,300Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
| Gray and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Gorham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Gorham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,956Highest 59% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham and South Berwick 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | #39 of 70 in VT | #10 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
— | 12.5Lowest |
12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.