Compare towns
Saco vs Ogunquit vs Wells 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 most renters (27.2% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | Wells | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
1,379Lowest |
11,713 |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Wells 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% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$88,024±$11kLowest 18% above ME |
$112,312±$6k 50% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17kLowest 39% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
$460,900±$26k 55% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 10% above ME |
— | $1,350±$297 19% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
| Gorham and Wells 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 |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Wells 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 3% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Wells High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| 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.