Compare towns
Douglas vs Gorham vs Saco vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Saco has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
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 | Douglas | Gorham | Saco | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
18,300 |
20,819Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Saco and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saco and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 103% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #24 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Gorham Public Schools | Saco Public Schools | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Gorham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
12.9Highest |
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| 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.