Compare towns
Gorham vs Saugus vs Windham vs Buxton
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%).
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
Buxton has the most affordable homes ($357k 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 | Saugus | Windham | Buxton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
28,773Highest |
19,188 |
8,512Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Buxton and Saugus 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% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus and Buxton 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% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$100,144±$21kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$356,800±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,613±$266 14% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825 55% above U.S. |
$6,049Highest 94% above U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.9%±26.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saugus and Gorham 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | #194 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME | #104 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Saugus | RSU 14 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Saugus High | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
15.5Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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| 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.