Compare towns
Saco vs Old Orchard Beach 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
Old Orchard Beach has the oldest population (median age 58).
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
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 | Old Orchard Beach | Biddeford | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
9,244Lowest |
22,498Highest |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
58±3.5Highest 29% above ME |
35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
6.5%±2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Saco 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% |
33.5%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% ME: 36.2% |
42.8% ME: 36.2% |
32.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
7%±1.9 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 |
$60,050±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
$72,333±$4k 3% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$366,600±$38kLowest 24% above ME |
$396,600±$25k 34% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,246±$182Lowest 9% above 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 |
$3,426Lowest 13% above ME |
$4,401 45% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
50.7%±15Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Old Orchard Beach and Saco 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% |
14.9% ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% ME: 74.3% |
68.2% 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 |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% below ME |
22 minLowest 11% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
15%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | #67 of 133 in ME | #111 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | RSU 23 | Biddeford Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Old Orchard Beach High School | Biddeford High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.6Lowest |
14.1Highest |
12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.