Compare towns

Barnard vs Gorham vs Saco

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Saco has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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.

MeasureBarnardGorhamSaco
People
Population
1,211Lowest
18,300
20,819Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.4±6
9% above U.S.
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.9±1.5Highest
15% above U.S.
Saco and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Barnard and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Barnard and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,581±$19k
21% above U.S.
$112,312±$6kHighest
39% above U.S.
$92,241±$11kLowest
14% above U.S.
Gorham and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$402,600±$71kLowest
21% above U.S.
$460,900±$26kHighest
39% above U.S.
$413,100±$17k
24% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,372±$80
about the U.S. average
$1,680±$355Highest
19% above U.S.
$1,249±$385Lowest
12% below U.S.
Gorham and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,038Highest
94% above U.S.
$4,825
55% above U.S.
$4,807Lowest
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27%±19.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±14Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Saco and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±10.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Barnard 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 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Gorham Public Schools Saco Public Schools
High school in town None in town Gorham High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.9
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.