Compare towns
Saco vs Amherst vs Gorham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saco has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
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 | Saco | Amherst | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
11,861Lowest |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Amherst and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Amherst and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Amherst and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | #20 of 120 in NH | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.