Compare towns
Gorham vs Douglas 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%).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Douglas | Saco | North Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
9,207 |
20,819Highest |
5,417Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%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 |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
42±3 8% above U.S. |
| Saco and Douglas 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% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saco and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% 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% |
5.4%±2.3 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±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$88,522±$8kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$342,800±$29kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,248±$604Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Douglas 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. |
$6,338Highest 103% 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% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±14.3Lowest 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%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. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% 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% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | #177 of 282 in MA | #38 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Douglas | Saco Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Douglas High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
7.2Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.