Compare towns

Gorham vs Cavendish vs Saco

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).
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k median).
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).

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.

MeasureGorhamCavendishSaco
People
Population
18,300
1,242Lowest
20,819Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.2±5.9Highest
16% above U.S.
44.9±1.5
15% above U.S.
Cavendish and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.9%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.3%±4.8
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Gorham and Cavendish 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%
23.6%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.1%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,312±$6kHighest
39% above U.S.
$89,063±$29kLowest
10% above U.S.
$92,241±$11k
14% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$460,900±$26kHighest
39% above U.S.
$285,100±$40kLowest
14% below U.S.
$413,100±$17k
24% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,680±$355Highest
19% above U.S.
$1,000±$546Lowest
29% below U.S.
$1,249±$385
12% 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
$4,825Highest
55% above U.S.
$3,948Lowest
27% above U.S.
$4,807
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.9%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
28.9%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±14Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Saco and Gorham 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%
6.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
Work from home
19%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.5%±6.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #24 of 133 in ME — #38 of 133 in ME
School district Gorham Public Schools Green Mountain Unified School District #77 Saco Public Schools
High school in town Gorham High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9
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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.