Compare towns
Gorham vs Stoneham vs Saco vs Hampden
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%).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k median).
Saco has the oldest population (median age 44.9).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k 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 | Stoneham | Saco | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
23,355Highest |
20,819 |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Saco and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden 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% |
20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoneham and Saco 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% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
| Stoneham 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 39% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
| Stoneham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825 55% above U.S. |
$6,523Highest 109% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Stoneham 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% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham and Hampden 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #38 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Stoneham | Saco Public Schools | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Stoneham High | None in town | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
10.7Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.