Compare towns
Buxton vs Exeter 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
Buxton has the most affordable homes ($357k median).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Buxton | Exeter | Gorham | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,512Lowest |
16,151 |
18,300 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 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 | $100,144±$21k 24% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,800±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,613±$266 14% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #104 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #24 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Gorham Public Schools | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.9Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.