Compare towns
Gorham vs Freeport vs North Windham vs Saco
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Freeport has the most expensive homes ($508k median).
North Windham has the most affordable homes ($343k 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.
| Measure | Gorham | Freeport | North Windham | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
8,802 |
5,417Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.9% ME: +2.6% |
+7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
48.8±4.3Highest 9% above ME |
42±3 6% below ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
| Freeport 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 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.7%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% ME: 36.2% |
59.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
37%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$107,326±$19k 44% above ME |
$88,522±$8kLowest 18% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
| Gorham and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 55% above ME |
$508,400±$76kHighest 71% above ME |
$342,800±$29kLowest 16% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
| Freeport 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 47% above ME |
$1,439±$123 26% above ME |
$1,248±$604Lowest 10% above ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
| Gorham and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825 59% above ME |
$5,042Highest 66% above ME |
$3,546Lowest 17% above ME |
$4,807 58% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.7%±14.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
| Freeport 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 ME: 10.7% |
8.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.1% ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.6% ME: 74.3% |
80.1% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 10% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Freeport 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | — | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 05 | — | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Freeport High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.2Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
ME 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.