Compare towns
Acton vs Gorham vs Saco vs Minot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Minot has the most affordable homes ($295k 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 | Acton | Gorham | Saco | Minot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
18,300 |
20,819Highest |
2,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
49±6.1 9% above ME |
| Acton and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Acton and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
25.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15kLowest 5% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$95,655±$17k 28% above ME |
| Gorham and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34k 13% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$294,900±$26kLowest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$878±$801Lowest 23% below ME |
| Gorham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680 12% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$4,807 58% above ME |
$2,602Lowest 14% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±40.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
6.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 64% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #43 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | #78 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools | Saco Public Schools | RSU 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.