Compare towns
Derry 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
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
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 | Derry | Gorham | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
18,300Lowest |
20,819 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 4% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saco and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 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 | $108,944±$7k 35% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 30% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 120 in NH | #24 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Gorham Public Schools | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.9Lowest |
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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.