Compare towns

Barton 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

Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Gorham has the highest household income ($112k).
Saco has the oldest population (median age 44.9).

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.

MeasureBartonGorhamSaco
People
Population
730Lowest
18,300
20,819Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40±5.5
about the U.S. average
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.9±1.5Highest
15% above U.S.
Saco and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24.1%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Barton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.2%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Barton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±1.6Lowest
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
$40,833±$8kLowest
49% below U.S.
$112,312±$6kHighest
39% above U.S.
$92,241±$11k
14% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$146,900±$30kLowest
56% below U.S.
$460,900±$26kHighest
39% above U.S.
$413,100±$17k
24% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$761±$150Lowest
46% below U.S.
$1,680±$355Highest
19% above U.S.
$1,249±$385
12% below U.S.
Gorham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,185Lowest
about the U.S. average
$4,825Highest
55% above U.S.
$4,807
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.8%±18.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±14
U.S.: 51.1%
Barton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
25.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945Lowest
35 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
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
Work from home
16.5%±10.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #38 of 70 in VT #24 of 133 in ME #38 of 133 in ME
School district — Gorham Public Schools Saco Public Schools
High school 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.