Compare towns
Gorham vs Paxton 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 the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Paxton has the most people working from home (25.5%).
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 | Paxton | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300 |
5,002Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±3.3 7% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Saco and Paxton 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% |
17.4%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Paxton 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% |
18.4%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saco and Paxton 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Paxton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$134,083±$8kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$472,300±$29kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Paxton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,386±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Paxton 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. |
$7,129Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Paxton 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 | #219 of 282 in MA | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Wachusett | 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.