Compare towns
Gorham vs Lyme 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Saco has the most affordable homes ($413k median).
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 | Lyme | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300 |
1,710Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
| Lyme 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% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%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% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme 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% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 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 |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme 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 | Lyme 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 |
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.