Compare towns
Buxton vs Gorham vs Webster 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 oldest population (median age 45.5).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Webster has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Webster | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,512 |
18,300 |
2,227Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
| Buxton and Saco 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%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Gorham 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% |
19.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster 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% |
30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest 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±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14k 33% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,800±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,613±$266 14% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Buxton 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. |
$6,021Highest 93% 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% |
53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%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. |
1979Lowest 1 yr 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 |
31 min 16% 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% |
17.1%±3.9 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 | Merrimack Valley School District | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.