Compare towns
Saco vs Mendon vs Gorham vs Topsham
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).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Mendon | Gorham | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
1,113Lowest |
18,300 |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Topsham 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% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Mendon 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. |
$357,000±$44kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Topsham 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. |
$5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon 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 | — | #24 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | — | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Gorham High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9Highest |
12.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.