Compare towns
Saco vs Marlow 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
Saco has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Marlow has the most affordable homes ($325k median).
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.
| Measure | Saco | Marlow | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
855Lowest |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
52.8±11.7Highest 36% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Marlow and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Marlow 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% |
30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$110,455±$12k 37% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Marlow 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. |
$325,400±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,154±$160Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,826Highest 87% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | — | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Marlow School District | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.