Compare towns
Gorham vs Guildhall vs Lancaster 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 most expensive homes ($461k median).
Guildhall has the most homeowners (93.7%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
Saco has the oldest population (median age 44.9).
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 | Guildhall | Lancaster | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
371Lowest |
2,230 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
42.6±7.8 10% above U.S. |
38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Saco and Guildhall 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% |
22.6%±7.5 U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Guildhall and Lancaster 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% |
33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$66,765±$20kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
| Guildhall 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±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$321,200±$62k 3% below U.S. |
$200,500±$24kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,036±$221 27% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Saco 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. |
$4,625 48% above U.S. |
$4,225Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall 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% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | — | #107 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | — | — | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | — | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.