Compare towns
Saco vs Mapleton vs Biddeford vs Gorham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saco has the oldest population (median age 44.9).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
Gorham has the highest household income ($112k).
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 | Mapleton | Biddeford | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
1,884Lowest |
22,498Highest |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
| Saco and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Saco and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
32.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| 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 23% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$72,333±$4kLowest 3% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$396,600±$25k 34% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,292±$100 13% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
| 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 58% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$4,401 45% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
| 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% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | — | #111 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Biddeford Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Biddeford High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.1Highest |
12.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.