Compare towns
Biddeford vs Gorham vs Saco vs Bangor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Biddeford has the youngest population (median age 35).
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Saco has the oldest population (median age 44.9).
Bangor has the most affordable homes ($220k 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 | Biddeford | Gorham | Saco | Bangor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,498 |
18,300Lowest |
20,819 |
31,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
41±1.3 8% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±1.7 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+ | 17.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
19.9%±1.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bangor and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
35.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
10.4%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Gorham and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,333±$4k 3% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$59,942±$7kLowest 20% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,600±$25k 34% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$219,600±$10kLowest 26% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100 13% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,055±$43Lowest 7% below ME |
| Gorham and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 45% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$4,807 58% above ME |
$3,076Lowest about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
51.5%±6.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Bangor and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.5% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
17.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8% ME: 74.3% |
47.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1954 23 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
17 minLowest 33% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #111 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | #37 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools | Saco Public Schools | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | Gorham High School | None in town | Bangor High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Highest |
12.9Lowest |
— | 13.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.