Compare towns
Gorham vs Scarborough vs Saco
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).
Scarborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Saco has the most affordable homes ($413k 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 | Scarborough | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Lowest |
23,215Highest |
20,819 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9% ME: +2.6% |
+17%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
48.8±2.7Highest 9% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
| Scarborough 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 ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 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% |
24.7%±2.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% ME: 36.2% |
57.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 50% above ME |
$133,558±$21kHighest 79% above ME |
$92,241±$11kLowest 23% above ME |
| Scarborough and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 55% above ME |
$551,900±$39kHighest 86% above ME |
$413,100±$17kLowest 39% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 47% above ME |
$1,956±$178Highest 72% above ME |
$1,249±$385Lowest 10% above ME |
| Scarborough and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825 59% above ME |
$5,978Highest 97% above ME |
$4,807Lowest 58% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
51.9%±13.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
| Scarborough 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% |
4.4% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.4% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 10% above ME |
19 minLowest 21% below ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
24.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Scarborough 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 | #35 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Scarborough Public Schools | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Scarborough High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.0Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.