Compare towns
Saco vs Gorham vs Brunswick vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saco has the oldest population (median age 44.9).
Gorham has the highest household income ($112k).
Brunswick has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
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 | Gorham | Brunswick | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
18,300 |
22,336Highest |
9,706Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
40±2.8 11% below ME |
44.7±4 about the ME average |
| Saco and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Topsham 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% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Topsham and Brunswick 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 ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
53.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
50% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brunswick and Gorham 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 |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$74,952±$6kLowest about the ME average |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$376,300±$15k 27% above ME |
$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 10% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,469±$99 29% above ME |
$1,355±$642 19% above ME |
| Gorham and Brunswick 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 |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$4,756 57% above ME |
$4,259Lowest 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±8.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Brunswick 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% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
23 minLowest 5% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Brunswick 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #30 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Brunswick High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
10.9Lowest |
12.2 |
| 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.