Compare towns
Saco vs Castleton vs Gorham vs Topsham
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 most renters (27.2% rent).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Gorham has the highest household income ($112k).
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 | Castleton | Gorham | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
4,453Lowest |
18,300 |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Saco and Topsham 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% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Topsham 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% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Topsham 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. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | #39 of 70 in VT | #24 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9Highest |
12.2Lowest |
| 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.