Compare towns
Saco vs Gardner 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).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k 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 | Gardner | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819 |
21,148Highest |
18,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Saco and Gardner 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% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Gardner 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% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gardner 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%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% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% 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. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Gardner 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% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 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 16% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | #273 of 282 in MA | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Gardner | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
12.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.