Compare towns
Saco vs Old Orchard Beach vs Gorham vs Brunswick
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).
Gorham has the highest household income ($112k).
Brunswick has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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 | Gorham | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
9,244Lowest |
18,300 |
22,336Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
58±3.5Highest 29% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
40±2.8 11% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
6.5%±2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Brunswick 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% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% ME: 36.2% |
42.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
53.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
7%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brunswick and Gorham 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 |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$74,952±$6k about the ME average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$366,600±$38kLowest 24% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$376,300±$15k 27% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,246±$182Lowest 9% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,469±$99 29% above ME |
| Gorham and Brunswick 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 |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$4,756 57% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
50.7%±15 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±8.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Brunswick and Old Orchard Beach 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%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% ME: 74.3% |
68.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
71.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% below ME |
22 minLowest 11% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
23 min 5% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
15%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Brunswick 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 | #67 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | #30 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | RSU 23 | Gorham Public Schools | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | Old Orchard Beach High School | Gorham High School | Brunswick High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.6Lowest |
12.9Highest |
10.9 |
| 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.