Compare towns
Anson vs Gorham vs Saco vs Madison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Anson has the most affordable homes ($100k median).
Gorham has the highest household income ($112k).
Saco has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Madison has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
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 | Anson | Gorham | Saco | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
18,300 |
20,819Highest |
4,782 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
-2.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±15.2 3% below ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
| Madison and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.2%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 8.2%±5.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 5.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,770±$61k 17% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$61,747±$11kLowest 17% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $100,400±$28kLowest 66% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $914±$247 20% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$906±$247Lowest 20% 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 | $1,207Lowest 60% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$4,807 58% above ME |
$1,983 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
15%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.7% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8% ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 27 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1964 13 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 26% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 0%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison 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 | — | #24 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Gorham Public Schools | Saco Public Schools | RSU 59/MSAD 59 |
| High school in town | — | Gorham High School | None in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| 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.