Compare towns
Saco vs Durham vs Windham 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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Windham | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
15,080Lowest |
19,188 |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
| Saco and Windham 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Windham 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
| Durham 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. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
| Durham 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. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Durham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #95 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 14 | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Windham High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
12.1Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.