Compare towns
Gorham vs Springfield vs Worcester vs Saco
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).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Saco has the oldest population (median age 44.9).
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 | Springfield | Worcester | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300Lowest |
154,749 |
207,055Highest |
20,819 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
33.9±0.5 13% below U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Gorham 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saco and Gorham 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% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Gorham 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. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$70,102±$2k 13% below U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$374,400±$7k 13% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Worcester 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. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Worcester 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% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | #276 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Springfield | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Springfield Central High | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
12.2Lowest |
14.6Highest |
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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.