Compare towns
Saco vs Dover 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
Saco has the oldest population (median age 44.9).
Dover has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Dover | Biddeford | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
33,364Highest |
22,498 |
18,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saco and Gorham 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% |
52%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%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 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. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$396,600±$25kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Dover 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. |
$8,249Highest 164% 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% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Dover 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% |
8.3% 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% |
52.7% 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. |
1976 4 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. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH | #111 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Dover School District | Biddeford Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Biddeford High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Lowest |
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.