Compare towns
Gorham vs Saco vs Surry
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 most kids (20.9% under 18).
Saco has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Surry has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300 |
20,819Highest |
1,836Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
38.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$74,508±$12kLowest about the ME average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$296,300±$36kLowest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$969±$129Lowest 15% below ME |
| Gorham and Saco 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 |
$1,903Lowest 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Surry 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%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 10% above ME |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5Lowest 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 | Surry Public Schools |
| 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 |
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.