Compare towns
Saco vs Gorham vs Williston vs Kittery
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 most affordable homes ($413k median).
Gorham has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Kittery has the most renters (32.8% 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 | Williston | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
18,300 |
10,144Lowest |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Williston 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% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery and Williston 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Williston and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
| Williston and Kittery 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. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.