Compare towns
Gorham vs Wayne vs Saco vs Hampden
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%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
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 | Wayne | Saco | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
1,101Lowest |
20,819Highest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden 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% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
$92,241±$11kLowest 23% above ME |
$111,959±$13k 50% above ME |
| Gorham and Hampden 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 |
$362,800±$29k 22% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
| Gorham and Hampden 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 |
$3,289Lowest 8% above ME |
$4,807 58% above ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 10% above ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Hampden 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 | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 38 | Saco Public Schools | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | None in town | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | — | 14.8Highest |
| 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.