Compare towns
Gorham vs Stoneham vs Wakefield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Wakefield has the highest household income ($134k).
Saco 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 | Stoneham | Wakefield | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300Lowest |
23,355 |
27,793Highest |
20,819 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Saco and Wakefield 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% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Stoneham 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% |
20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoneham and Wakefield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Stoneham 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±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Stoneham and Wakefield 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. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Wakefield 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% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | #117 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Stoneham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Stoneham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
10.7Lowest |
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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.