Compare towns
Gorham vs Saco vs Steep Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has the highest household income ($112k).
Saco has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Steep Falls has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Steep Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300 |
20,819Highest |
1,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+7.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
44.1±6.5 about the ME average |
| Saco and Steep Falls 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%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±9.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Steep Falls 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%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
9.7%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| 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 ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
14.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±3.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$80,280±$33kLowest 7% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$243,400±$31kLowest 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,249±$385Lowest 10% above ME |
$1,516±$1k 33% above ME |
| Gorham and Steep Falls 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 |
$3,273Lowest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
66.4%±36.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Steep Falls 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 ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
7.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 10% above ME |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
31 minHighest 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
4%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.