Compare towns
Dedham 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
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
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 | Dedham | Gorham | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
18,300Lowest |
20,819 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Saco and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #24 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dedham | Gorham Public Schools | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.9Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.