Compare towns
Gorham vs Islesboro vs Ogunquit 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 the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Islesboro has the shortest commute (8 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Islesboro | Ogunquit | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
636Lowest |
1,379 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9% ME: +2.6% |
+3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
57±8.4 27% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
| Ogunquit and Islesboro 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% |
11.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
40.6%±10.1 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% ME: 36.2% |
47.8% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 50% above ME |
$88,438±$44kLowest 18% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
| Ogunquit 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±$26k 55% above ME |
$288,800±$140kLowest about the ME average |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$938±$252Lowest 18% below ME |
— | $1,249±$385 10% above ME |
| 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 59% above ME |
$4,300Lowest 42% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$4,807 58% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
30.8%±85.4 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% ME: 10.7% |
15.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% ME: 74.3% |
91.8% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 10% above ME |
8 minLowest 69% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.3%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | — | — | #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 |
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.