Compare towns
Gorham vs Dedham vs Needham 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 youngest population (median age 39.4).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Dedham | Needham | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300Lowest |
25,237 |
32,459Highest |
20,819 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Saco 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825 55% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Needham 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | — | Needham | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | — | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.