Compare towns
Gorham vs Ludlow vs Mapleton 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 highest household income ($112k).
Ludlow has the most affordable homes ($134k median).
Mapleton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
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 | Ludlow | Mapleton | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
444Lowest |
1,884 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
46.1±5.8Highest about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
| Ludlow and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.7%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Ludlow and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Saco and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±3.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$62,500±$21kLowest 16% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$133,900±$56kLowest 55% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$988±$111 13% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% 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 |
$1,655Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$4,807 58% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±94.3 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% ME: 74.3% |
90.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 10% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.8%±8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest 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 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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 |
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.