Compare towns
Gorham vs Hanover 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 kids (20.9% under 18).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Saco has the oldest population (median age 44.9).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hanover | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300 |
11,685Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 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%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825 55% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 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 |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.