Compare towns

Gorham vs Jay 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 people working from home (27.3%).
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.

MeasureGorhamJaySaco
People
Population
18,300
471Lowest
20,819Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Lowest
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.
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%
16.7%±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%
18.5%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Saco and Gorham 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%
43.5%Lowest
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%
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.
$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.
$413,100±$17k
24% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,680±$355Highest
19% above U.S.
—
$1,249±$385Lowest
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.
$3,588Lowest
15% above U.S.
$4,807
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.9%±8.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100
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%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
97%Highest
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.
1982Lowest
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.
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
Work from home
19%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±13.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Jay 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 — #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
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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.