Compare towns
Gorham vs Saco vs Sutton vs Topsham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k 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 | Sutton | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
20,819Highest |
9,452Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Saco and Topsham 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Topsham 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% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% 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% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Topsham 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. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Sutton 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | #105 of 282 in MA | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Saco Public Schools | Sutton | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Sutton High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 12.6 |
12.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.