Compare towns
Bow vs Gorham vs Ogunquit 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
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Gorham has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Bow | Gorham | Ogunquit | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
18,300 |
1,379Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Bow and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
— | $1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #26 of 120 in NH | #24 of 133 in ME | — | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bow School District | Gorham Public Schools | — | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Gorham High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.