Compare towns
Saco vs Eliot vs Biddeford vs Gorham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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 | Eliot | Biddeford | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
7,146Lowest |
22,498Highest |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
50.8±5.9Highest 13% above ME |
35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
| Eliot 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 ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
27.8%±6.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% ME: 36.2% |
43.6% ME: 36.2% |
32.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| 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 23% above ME |
$101,522±$10k 36% above ME |
$72,333±$4kLowest 3% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
| Gorham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$498,900±$62kHighest 68% above ME |
$396,600±$25kLowest 34% above ME |
$460,900±$26k 55% above ME |
| Eliot and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 10% above ME |
$1,948±$471Highest 71% above ME |
$1,292±$100 13% above ME |
$1,680±$355 47% above ME |
| Eliot and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 58% above ME |
$4,549 50% above ME |
$4,401Lowest 45% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
55.1%±20.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Eliot and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
4.8% ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.8% ME: 74.3% |
48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% below ME |
23 minLowest 9% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.4%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | #19 of 133 in ME | #111 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Biddeford Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Biddeford High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.1Highest |
12.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.