Compare towns
Gorham vs Hanover vs Hanson 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Hanover has the highest household income ($190k).
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Hanover | Hanson | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
14,845 |
10,660Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±1.4 7% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Saco and Hanson 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% |
26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanover and Hanson 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% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson 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% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,845±$341Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Hanover and Hanson 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. |
$9,342Highest 200% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Hanover 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older 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 |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Gorham 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 | #69 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Whitman-Hanson | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
10.3Lowest |
14.7Highest |
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| 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.