Compare towns
Gorham vs Mapleton vs Buxton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Buxton has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
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 | Mapleton | Buxton | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
1,884Lowest |
8,512 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
45.5±3.9Highest about the ME average |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
| Buxton 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Gorham 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
19.2%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Buxton and Saco 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
30.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$91,731±$25kLowest 23% above ME |
$100,144±$21k 34% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
| Gorham and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$356,800±$21k 20% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,613±$266 42% above ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
| Gorham and Buxton 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,422 13% above ME |
$4,807 58% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
26.9%±26.5 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% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
2.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
80.3% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 10% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
34 minHighest 39% above ME |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | — | #104 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | 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.