Compare towns
Saco vs Middlesex vs Biddeford 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 oldest population (median age 44.9).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Biddeford | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
1,943Lowest |
22,498Highest |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
| Saco and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Gorham 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Saco 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 14% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #111 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
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.