Compare towns
Saco vs Grantham vs Gorham vs Biddeford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grantham has the most homeowners (100%).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
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 | Grantham | Gorham | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
3,465Lowest |
18,300 |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
50.4±7.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Grantham and Saco 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% |
19.1%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 14% above U.S. |
$106,403±$54k 32% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$343,100±$39kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
— | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
| 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 54% above U.S. |
$7,605Highest 144% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Gorham 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% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | #6 of 120 in NH | #24 of 133 in ME | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Grantham School District | Gorham Public Schools | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9Lowest |
14.1Highest |
| 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.