Compare towns
South Berwick vs Gorham vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Berwick has the most renters (21.7% rent).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k 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 | South Berwick | Gorham | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670Lowest |
18,300Highest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
41±2.9Highest 8% below ME |
| Hampden 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 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Gorham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,572±$13kLowest 33% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$111,959±$13k 50% above ME |
| Gorham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,300±$26k 44% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
| 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 52% above ME |
$1,680±$355 47% above ME |
$1,286±$317Lowest 13% above ME |
| 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 63% above ME |
$4,825 59% above ME |
$3,694Lowest 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| South Berwick and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | Gorham High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0 |
12.9Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.