Compare towns
Gorham vs Saco vs Worcester 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 the highest household income ($112k).
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Topsham has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Worcester | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
20,819Highest |
831Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Worcester 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%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest 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% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Worcester 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% |
53%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% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Worcester 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±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% 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 | $4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% 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% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Topsham 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%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. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% 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% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Saco Public Schools | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | — | 12.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.