Compare towns
Wells vs Gorham vs South Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Gorham has the highest household income ($112k).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Wells | Gorham | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,713 |
18,300Highest |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9% ME: +2.6% |
+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,024±$11kLowest 18% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$99,572±$13k 33% 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 | $485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$460,900±$26k 55% above ME |
$428,300±$26kLowest 44% above ME |
| Wells and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,350±$297Lowest 19% above ME |
$1,680±$355 47% above ME |
$1,726±$83Highest 52% 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 | $3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
$4,825 59% above ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| South Berwick and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 12% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Wells 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Wells High School | Gorham High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.9 |
13.0Highest |
| 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.