Compare towns
Gorham vs Saco vs Sheldon
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 most renters (27.2% rent).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300 |
20,819Highest |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
| Saco and Sheldon 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%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% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% 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% |
0%±27Lowest 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.