Compare towns
Gorham vs Ossipee vs Hampden 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%).
Ossipee has the oldest population (median age 50).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
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 | Ossipee | Hampden | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
4,521Lowest |
7,896 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
| Ossipee 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Gorham 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% |
26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ossipee 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$90,521±$22kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,601±$245 13% above U.S. |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Ossipee 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. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee 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% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | #6 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | RSU 22 | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Hampden Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.