Compare towns
Gorham vs Saco vs Wakefield vs Gray
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Wakefield has the most homeowners (96.8%).
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 | Wakefield | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
20,819Highest |
5,405Lowest |
8,429 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Saco 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% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Gray 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%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gray and Wakefield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest 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% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Wakefield 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. |
$322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,375±$434 about the U.S. average |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
| Gorham and Wakefield 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. |
$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$3,683 18% 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% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Saco 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | #118 of 120 in NH | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Saco Public Schools | Wakefield School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | — | 12.5Lowest |
| 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.