Compare towns
Gorham vs Appleton vs Dedham vs Saco
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Dedham has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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 | Gorham | Appleton | Dedham | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
1,360Lowest |
1,656 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$111,442±$18k 49% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
| Gorham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,422±$607 25% above ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
| Gorham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$3,588Lowest 18% above ME |
$3,942 30% above ME |
$4,807 58% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 10% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | — | — | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | Dedham Public Schools | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.