Compare towns
South Berwick vs Mapleton vs Gray vs Gorham
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 kids (26.7% under 18).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Mapleton | Gray | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,670 |
1,884Lowest |
8,429 |
18,300Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.5% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
43.4±4.5Highest 3% below ME |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
| Gray and Mapleton 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
19%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Gray and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,572±$13k 33% above ME |
$91,731±$25kLowest 23% above ME |
$95,236±$8k 27% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
| 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 44% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$363,700±$20k 23% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
| 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,371±$89 20% above ME |
$1,680±$355 47% 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,683 21% above ME |
$4,825 59% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Gray and South Berwick 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% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.5% ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 minHighest 16% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | — | #10 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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 |
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.