Compare towns

Saco vs Somerville vs Gorham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saco has the oldest population (median age 44.9).
Somerville has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Gorham has the highest household income ($112k).

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.

MeasureSacoSomervilleGorham
People
Population
20,819Highest
837Lowest
18,300
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.3%
ME: +2.6%
+9.5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+11.9%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
44.9±1.5Highest
about the ME average
33.5±11.3Lowest
25% below ME
39.4±2.9
12% below ME
Kids under 18
16.7%±2.5Lowest
ME: 18.1%
28.8%±7Highest
ME: 18.1%
20.9%±3.5
ME: 18.1%
Somerville and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.5%±2.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
13.7%±2.9Lowest
ME: 22.4%
17.5%±2.5
ME: 22.4%
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%
ME: 36.2%
25.7%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
44.3%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±1.2
ME: 5.8%
1.8%±1.7Lowest
ME: 5.8%
13.1%±1.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$92,241±$11k
23% above ME
$71,250±$15kLowest
5% below ME
$112,312±$6kHighest
50% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$413,100±$17k
39% above ME
$218,100±$41kLowest
26% below ME
$460,900±$26kHighest
55% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,249±$385Lowest
10% above ME
$1,583±$265
39% above ME
$1,680±$355Highest
47% above ME
Gorham and Somerville 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
$2,505Lowest
17% below ME
$4,825Highest
59% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.3%±14
ME: 48.4%
65.7%±58.5Highest
ME: 48.4%
37.9%±8.6Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Somerville 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%
17%Highest
ME: 10.7%
3.7%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
85.8%Highest
ME: 74.3%
81.5%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Lowest
5 yrs newer than ME
1989Highest
12 yrs newer than ME
1988
11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
3% below ME
27 min
9% above ME
27 minHighest
10% above ME
Work from home
19%±3.6Highest
ME: 15.9%
3.9%±2.3Lowest
ME: 15.9%
19%±3.7Highest
ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #38 of 133 in ME — #24 of 133 in ME
School district Saco Public Schools RSU 12 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

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.