Compare towns
Saco vs Plainfield vs Gorham vs Biddeford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Gorham | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
1,314Lowest |
18,300 |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Plainfield 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% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield 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% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6 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. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4k 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
| 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 54% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | — | #24 of 133 in ME | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | — | Gorham Public Schools | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Gorham High School | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9Lowest |
14.1Highest |
| 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.