Compare towns
Gorham vs Plainfield vs Saco vs North Windham
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%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).
North Windham has the most affordable homes ($343k 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 | Plainfield | Saco | North Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
2,522Lowest |
20,819Highest |
5,417 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
42±3 8% above U.S. |
| Saco and North Windham 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield 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% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$88,522±$8kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Gorham 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. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$342,800±$29kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Plainfield 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. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,248±$604Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Plainfield 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. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$3,546Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±14.3Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% 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. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Plainfield 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 | 6 photos → | 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.