Compare towns
Gorham vs Strafford vs Saco vs North Windham
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%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).
North Windham has the most affordable homes ($343k 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 | Strafford | Saco | North Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
1,372Lowest |
20,819Highest |
5,417 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
42±3 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Gorham 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$88,522±$8kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$342,800±$29kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,248±$604 12% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Saco 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. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$3,546Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±14.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Strafford 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Windham 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 | — | #38 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Strafford School District | Saco Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.