Compare towns
Gorham vs Gray vs Waterville 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).
Gray has the most homeowners (82.4%).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k 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 | Gray | Waterville | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
8,429 |
680Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
| Waterville 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% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Waterville 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% |
19.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gray 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% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Gray 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. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 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 min 8% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | #10 of 133 in ME | — | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.5Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.