Compare towns

Gorham vs Saco vs Thompson vs North Windham

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 most kids (20.9% under 18).
Saco has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
North Windham has the most people working from home (20.9%).

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.

MeasureGorhamSacoThompsonNorth Windham
People
Population
18,300
20,819Highest
9,337
5,417Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+7.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.9±1.5
15% above U.S.
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
42±3
8% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20.9%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson 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%
21.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
37%
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%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,312±$6kHighest
39% above U.S.
$92,241±$11k
14% above U.S.
$93,629±$18k
16% above U.S.
$88,522±$8kLowest
10% above U.S.
Gorham and Thompson 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.
$291,900±$24kLowest
12% below U.S.
$342,800±$29k
3% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,680±$355Highest
19% above U.S.
$1,249±$385
12% below U.S.
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,248±$604
12% below U.S.
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
55% above U.S.
$4,807
54% above U.S.
$3,822
23% above U.S.
$3,546Lowest
14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.9%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±14
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±14.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Thompson 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
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
19%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
North Windham 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 #130 of 149 in CT —
School district Gorham Public Schools Saco Public Schools Thompson School District —
High school in town Gorham High School None in town Tourtellotte Memorial High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9Highest
—
7.9Lowest
—
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.