Compare towns
Saco vs Salem vs Gorham vs Windham
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
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 | Salem | Gorham | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
44,795Highest |
18,300Lowest |
19,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
| Saco and Windham 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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saco and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Windham 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. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Salem and Gorham 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. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #24 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Salem | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High | Gorham High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
12.9Highest |
12.1 |
| 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.