Compare towns
Gorham vs Saco vs Salem
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).
Saco has the oldest population (median age 44.9).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% 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 | Saco | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Lowest |
20,819 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest 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%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saco and Gorham 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% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Salem and Gorham 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. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Saco Public Schools | Salem |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.