Compare towns
Gorham vs Jay vs North Windham 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).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
North Windham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1980).
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 | Jay | North Windham | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
471Lowest |
5,417 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
42±3 8% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.1 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%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saco and North Windham 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% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$88,522±$8k 10% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$342,800±$29k 3% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
— | $1,248±$604Lowest 12% 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. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,546Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±14.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Jay 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and North Windham 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 | — | — | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | — | 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.