Compare towns
Gorham vs Townsend vs Gray 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%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
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 | Townsend | Gray | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
9,100 |
8,429Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Saco and Gray 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% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gray 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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Townsend 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. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Townsend 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. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 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 |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | #136 of 282 in MA | #10 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | North Middlesex | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | North Middlesex Regional | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
13.1Highest |
12.5Lowest |
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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.