Compare towns
Gorham vs Durham 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 the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Saco has the oldest population (median age 44.9).
North Windham has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Saco | North Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
15,080 |
20,819Highest |
5,417Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
42±3 8% above U.S. |
| Saco and North Windham 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Saco 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest 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. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$88,522±$8kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Durham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$342,800±$29kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Durham 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. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,248±$604Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Durham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±14.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Windham and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Oyster River Coop School District | Saco Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Oyster River High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.3Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.