Compare towns
Gorham vs Saco vs Surry
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 youngest population (median age 39.4).
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Surry has the most affordable homes ($331k 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 |
1,052Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.7±5.1 15% above U.S. |
| Saco and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Surry 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% |
23.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Surry and Saco 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% |
31.7%Lowest 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% |
6.6%±6.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$110,125±$25k 36% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$331,400±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Surry 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. |
$6,384Highest 105% 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% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest 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% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1Lowest 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 | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | 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.