Compare towns
Gorham vs Calais vs Saco vs North Windham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Saco has the shortest commute (24 min average).
North Windham has the most affordable homes ($343k 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 | Gorham | Calais | Saco | North Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
1,713Lowest |
20,819Highest |
5,417 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
42±3 8% above U.S. |
| Saco and Calais 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% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais 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% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Saco 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% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$88,522±$8kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$342,800±$29kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,248±$604Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825 55% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$3,546Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±14.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Calais 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% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 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 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and North Windham 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 | Gorham Public Schools | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Saco Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.