Compare towns
Gorham vs Barton vs Saco vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has the highest household income ($112k).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Saco has the oldest population (median age 44.9).
Topsham 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 | Barton | Saco | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
730Lowest |
20,819Highest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
40±5.5 about the U.S. average |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Saco and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Barton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | #38 of 70 in VT | #38 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | — | Saco Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | — | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | — | 12.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.