Compare towns
Benton vs Gorham vs Saco
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benton has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Gorham has the highest household income ($112k).
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).
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 | Benton | Gorham | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,770Lowest |
18,300 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6 4% below ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
| Saco and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Benton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,437±$5kLowest 18% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,700±$23kLowest 40% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$123Lowest about the ME average |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
| Gorham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,758Lowest 42% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$4,807 58% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #85 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | 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 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.