Compare towns
Saco vs Hooksett vs Gorham vs Brunswick
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 oldest population (median age 44.9).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Brunswick has the most affordable homes ($376k 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 | Hooksett | Gorham | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
15,057Lowest |
18,300 |
22,336Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
40±2.8 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Hooksett 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 14% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Hooksett 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 24% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$376,300±$15kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,469±$99 4% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Hooksett 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. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$4,756Lowest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #24 of 133 in ME | #30 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Hooksett School District | Gorham Public Schools | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Brunswick High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| 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.