Compare towns
Dayton vs Gorham vs Ogunquit vs Saco
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dayton has the most affordable homes ($398k median).
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 | Dayton | Gorham | Ogunquit | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,313 |
18,300 |
1,379Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±5.5 6% below ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24k 52% above ME |
$112,312±$6k 50% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$92,241±$11kLowest 23% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,200±$34kLowest 34% above ME |
$460,900±$26k 55% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,215±$867Lowest 7% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
— | $1,249±$385 10% above ME |
| Gorham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,872Lowest 28% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$4,807 58% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 26% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #24 of 133 in ME | — | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dayton Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools | — | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | — | 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 |
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.