Compare towns
Saco vs Hooksett vs Gorham vs Windham
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 renters (27.2% rent).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($389k 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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
15,057Lowest |
18,300 |
19,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%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 |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
| Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Windham 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% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest 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% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above 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. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below 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. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Hooksett 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest 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. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH | #24 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Hooksett School District | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| 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.