Compare towns
Saco vs Gorham vs Dayton vs Biddeford
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Dayton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
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 | Dayton | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
18,300 |
2,313Lowest |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
42.1±5.5 6% below ME |
35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
| Saco and Dayton 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% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
| 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% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
32.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6 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 |
$112,312±$6k 50% above ME |
$113,750±$24kHighest 52% above ME |
$72,333±$4kLowest 3% below ME |
| Dayton 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 39% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$398,200±$34k 34% above ME |
$396,600±$25kLowest 34% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,215±$867Lowest 7% above ME |
$1,292±$100 13% above ME |
| Gorham and Biddeford 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 |
$3,872Lowest 28% above ME |
$4,401 45% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
38%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Dayton 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% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% below ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | — | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools | Dayton Public Schools | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Lowest |
— | 14.1Highest |
| 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.