Compare towns
Buxton vs Gorham vs Sutton 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).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (95.7%).
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 | Gorham | Sutton | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,512 |
18,300 |
2,239Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Sutton 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% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton 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% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,144±$21k 24% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Gorham 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. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,613±$266 14% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,656±$614 17% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Sutton 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. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Gorham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #104 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | — | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Gorham Public Schools | Kearsarge Regional School District | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.