Compare towns
Gorham vs Saco vs Sharon
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 highest household income ($112k).
Saco has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Sharon has the most affordable homes ($347k 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 | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300 |
20,819Highest |
1,577Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Sharon 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon 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% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
| Gorham and Sharon 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. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Saco Public Schools | Sharon School District |
| 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.