Compare towns
Gorham vs Old Orchard Beach vs Saco vs North Windham
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 most kids (20.9% under 18).
Old Orchard Beach has the oldest population (median age 58).
North Windham has the most people working from home (20.9%).
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 | Old Orchard Beach | Saco | North Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
9,244 |
20,819Highest |
5,417Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+7.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
58±3.5Highest 29% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
42±3 6% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
6.5%±2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±4.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
33.5%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
42.8% ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
37%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
7%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$60,050±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$88,522±$8k 18% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$366,600±$38k 24% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$342,800±$29kLowest 16% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,246±$182Lowest 9% above ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,248±$604 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 |
$3,426Lowest 13% above ME |
$4,807 58% above ME |
$3,546 17% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
50.7%±15Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
30.7%±14.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Old Orchard Beach 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 ME: 10.7% |
14.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
6.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
68.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
72.8% ME: 74.3% |
80.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 10% above ME |
22 minLowest 11% below ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
15%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| North Windham 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 | #67 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | — | Saco Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | — | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.