Compare towns

Gorham vs Putney 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).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
Saco has the oldest population (median age 44.9).

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.

MeasureGorhamPutneySaco
People
Population
18,300
2,622Lowest
20,819Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.4±2.9
about the U.S. average
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
44.9±1.5Highest
15% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20.9%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Saco and Putney 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%
48.6%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%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,312±$6kHighest
39% above U.S.
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$92,241±$11k
14% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$460,900±$26kHighest
39% above U.S.
$300,000±$44kLowest
10% below U.S.
$413,100±$17k
24% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,680±$355Highest
19% above U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,249±$385
12% below U.S.
Gorham and Saco 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.
$5,313Highest
70% above U.S.
$4,807Lowest
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.9%±8.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±14
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney 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%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
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.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
Work from home
19%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #24 of 133 in ME #32 of 70 in VT #38 of 133 in ME
School district Gorham Public Schools Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 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.