Compare towns
Saco vs Fair Haven 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).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Gorham has the highest household income ($112k).
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 | Fair Haven | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
2,724Lowest |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Fair Haven 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% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saco and Fair Haven 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% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Saco 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. |
$3,865Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fair Haven 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% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | #66 of 70 in VT | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.