Compare towns
Saco vs Danvers vs Biddeford 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
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
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 | Danvers | Biddeford | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
28,098Highest |
22,498 |
18,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
| Danvers and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Danvers 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% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Biddeford 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. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Gorham 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. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$396,600±$25kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
| Danvers 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. |
$6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Danvers 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Danvers 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #111 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Biddeford Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Biddeford High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Lowest |
14.1Highest |
12.9 |
| 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.