Compare towns
Gorham vs Saco vs Kittery vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k 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 | Saco | Kittery | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
20,819Highest |
10,473 |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
46.8±2.3Highest 4% above ME |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
| Kittery 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 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.9%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
46%Highest ME: 36.2% |
45.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$92,241±$11kLowest 23% above ME |
$93,728±$14k 25% above ME |
$111,959±$13k 50% above ME |
| 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±$26k 55% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$468,500±$31kHighest 58% above ME |
$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
| Kittery and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 47% above ME |
$1,249±$385Lowest 10% above ME |
$1,716±$224Highest 51% above ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
| Kittery and Gorham 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 |
$4,807 58% above ME |
$4,518 49% above ME |
$3,694Lowest 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.9 ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Kittery 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% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% ME: 74.3% |
72.8% ME: 74.3% |
67.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 10% above ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.7%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Kittery and Hampden 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #17 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Saco Public Schools | Kittery Public Schools | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | 9.9Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.