Compare towns
Durham vs Gorham vs Saco vs Lisbon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most homeowners (95.4%).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Saco has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($258k 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 | Durham | Gorham | Saco | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
18,300 |
20,819Highest |
9,750 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+7.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
| Saco and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Lisbon and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| 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+ | 34.8% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5k 33% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$77,819±$9kLowest 4% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34k 9% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$258,300±$26kLowest 13% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$979±$286Lowest 14% below ME |
| Gorham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781 25% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$4,807 58% above ME |
$3,324Lowest 9% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
43.4%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
74.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
29 minHighest 17% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
18.1%±9.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Durham 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 | #14 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | #60 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Gorham Public Schools | Saco Public Schools | Lisbon Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Lisbon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Lowest |
— | 15.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.