Compare towns
Gorham vs Wales 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%).
Wales has the most kids (30.2% under 18).
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 | Wales | Windham | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
1,924Lowest |
19,188 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
35.1±4.2Lowest 22% 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%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
30.2%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Wales 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 ME: 22.4% |
11%±2.2Lowest 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% |
15.6%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% |
5.4%±3.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$77,004±$5kLowest 3% above 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 |
$250,400±$28kLowest 16% below ME |
$388,900±$22k 31% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,154±$64Lowest 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 |
$2,578Lowest 15% 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% |
83.3%±37.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
| Wales 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% |
25.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% ME: 74.3% |
91.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 10% above ME |
28 minHighest 14% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.2%±13.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Wales 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 | — | #95 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 04 | RSU 14 | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Oak Hill High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.9Lowest |
12.1 |
— |
| 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.