Compare towns
Gorham vs Saco vs Waterville
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 oldest population (median age 44.9).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($185k 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 | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300 |
20,819Highest |
17,077Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+0.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
35.5±2.5Lowest 21% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest 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%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Saco and Waterville 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 ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
30.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$53,580±$4kLowest 28% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$184,600±$21kLowest 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$978±$72Lowest 14% 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 |
$2,755Lowest 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
50.5%±8.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Waterville 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% |
20.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8% ME: 74.3% |
48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 10% above ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
18 minLowest 27% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.6%±5.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | #105 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Saco Public Schools | Waterville Public Schools |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Waterville Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
| 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.