Compare towns

Saco vs Gorham vs Westbrook

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).
Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).

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.

MeasureSacoGorhamWestbrook
People
Population
20,819Highest
18,300Lowest
20,775
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.3%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+11.9%
ME: +2.6%
+16.6%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
44.9±1.5Highest
about the ME average
39.4±2.9
12% below ME
37.4±1Lowest
17% below ME
Kids under 18
16.7%±2.5Lowest
ME: 18.1%
20.9%±3.5Highest
ME: 18.1%
18.5%±2.4
ME: 18.1%
Gorham and Westbrook 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%±2.5Lowest
ME: 22.4%
18.1%±2.2
ME: 22.4%
Saco and Westbrook 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%
41.3%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±1.2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
13.1%±1.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
9%±2.5
ME: 5.8%
Gorham and Westbrook 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
$85,038±$7kLowest
14% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$413,100±$17k
39% above ME
$460,900±$26kHighest
55% above ME
$383,300±$19kLowest
29% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,249±$385Lowest
10% above ME
$1,680±$355Highest
47% above ME
$1,392±$74
22% above ME
Gorham and Westbrook 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
$4,005Lowest
32% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.3%±14Highest
ME: 48.4%
37.9%±8.6Lowest
ME: 48.4%
46.1%±7.4
ME: 48.4%
Saco and Westbrook 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%
8%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%
ME: 74.3%
81.5%Highest
ME: 74.3%
61.2%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
5 yrs newer than ME
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
1975Lowest
2 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
3% below ME
27 minHighest
10% above ME
19 minLowest
24% below ME
Work from home
19%±3.6Highest
ME: 15.9%
19%±3.7Highest
ME: 15.9%
17.8%±2.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #38 of 133 in ME #24 of 133 in ME #115 of 133 in ME
School district Saco Public Schools Gorham Public Schools Westbrook Public Schools
High school in town None in town Gorham High School Westbrook High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.9Highest
12.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.