Compare towns

Saco vs Lee vs Windham vs Gorham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).

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.

MeasureSacoLeeWindhamGorham
People
Population
20,819Highest
5,719Lowest
19,188
18,300
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.9±1.5
15% above U.S.
55.2±5.8Highest
42% above U.S.
41.8±1.8
7% above U.S.
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
16.7%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.5Highest
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%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
33.4%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$92,241±$11k
14% above U.S.
$83,750±$13kLowest
4% above U.S.
$107,934±$14k
34% above U.S.
$112,312±$6kHighest
39% above U.S.
Gorham and Windham 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.
$352,700±$19kLowest
6% above U.S.
$388,900±$22k
17% above U.S.
$460,900±$26kHighest
39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,249±$385
12% below U.S.
$1,375±$212
about the U.S. average
$1,232±$332Lowest
13% below U.S.
$1,680±$355Highest
19% above U.S.
Gorham and Lee 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.
$3,980
28% above U.S.
$3,938Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,825Highest
55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.3%±14
U.S.: 51.1%
57.3%±21.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
32.7%±14.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Lee 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%
7.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
10% below U.S.
18 minLowest
31% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
19%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±7.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #38 of 133 in ME #209 of 282 in MA #95 of 133 in ME #24 of 133 in ME
School district Saco Public Schools Lee RSU 14 Gorham Public Schools
High school in town None in town Lee Middle/High School Windham High School Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.2Lowest
12.1
12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.