Compare towns
Saco vs Benson vs Gorham vs Kittery
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Kittery has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Benson | Gorham | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
784Lowest |
18,300 |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Benson and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Benson 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 14% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$4,125Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Saco 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% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery and Saco 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | — | #24 of 133 in ME | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Gorham Public Schools | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.