Compare towns
Gorham vs Waldo vs Windham vs Saco
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Waldo has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).
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 | Waldo | Windham | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
926Lowest |
19,188 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
| Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| 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 ME: 36.2% |
36.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.2% ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$71,458±$21kLowest 4% below ME |
$107,934±$14k 44% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
| Gorham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$208,000±$41kLowest 30% below ME |
$388,900±$22k 31% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,150±$691Lowest about the ME average |
$1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
| Gorham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
$3,938 30% above ME |
$4,807 58% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 10% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | — | #95 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Waldo-Region 7 | RSU 14 | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.