Compare towns

Saco vs Danvers 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).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k 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.

MeasureSacoDanversGorham
People
Population
20,819
28,098Highest
18,300Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.3%
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.
39.4±2.9Lowest
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%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±2
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%
17.5%±2.5Lowest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.4%Highest
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%
13.1%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$92,241±$11kLowest
14% above U.S.
$125,395±$10kHighest
55% above 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±$17kLowest
24% above U.S.
$644,200±$23kHighest
94% 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.
$1,680±$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
$4,807Lowest
54% above U.S.
$6,654Highest
113% 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%
37.9%±8.6Lowest
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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
19%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7Lowest
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 #24 of 133 in ME
School district Saco Public Schools Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Gorham Public Schools
High school in town None in town Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8Lowest
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.