Compare towns
Dover vs Gorham vs Saco vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Dover | Gorham | Saco | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Lowest |
18,300 |
20,819Highest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,074±$80 24% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$5,364Highest 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend and Dover 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 | — | #24 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Gorham Public Schools | Saco Public Schools | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
— | 8.1Lowest |
| 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.