Compare towns

Saco vs Ripton 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 most renters (27.2% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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.

MeasureSacoRiptonGorham
People
Population
20,819Highest
508Lowest
18,300
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.9±1.5
15% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
Ripton 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%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.5Highest
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%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Ripton 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±$11kLowest
14% above U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$112,312±$6k
39% above U.S.
Ripton 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±$17k
24% above U.S.
$394,400±$61kLowest
19% above U.S.
$460,900±$26kHighest
39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,249±$385Lowest
12% below U.S.
—
$1,680±$355Highest
19% above U.S.
Gorham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,807Lowest
54% above U.S.
$4,915Highest
58% above U.S.
$4,825
55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.3%±14
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton 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%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
19%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #38 of 133 in ME — #24 of 133 in ME
School district Saco Public Schools Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Gorham Public Schools
High school in town None in town None in town Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.