Compare towns
Saco vs Bangor vs Gorham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saco has the oldest population (median age 44.9).
Bangor has the most affordable homes ($220k median).
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% 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 | Saco | Bangor | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819 |
31,938Highest |
18,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
41±1.3 8% below ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
19.9%±1.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bangor 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% ME: 36.2% |
35.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
10.4%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Gorham and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$59,942±$7kLowest 20% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$219,600±$10kLowest 26% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,055±$43Lowest 7% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% 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 | $4,807 58% above ME |
$3,076Lowest about the ME average |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
51.5%±6.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Bangor and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
17.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% ME: 74.3% |
47.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% below ME |
17 minLowest 33% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | #37 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Bangor High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.3Highest |
12.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.