Compare towns
Saco vs South Berwick 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).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
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 | South Berwick | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
7,670Lowest |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick 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% |
15.8%±3Lowest 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% |
41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11kLowest 23% above ME |
$99,572±$13k 33% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
| Gorham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17kLowest 39% above ME |
$428,300±$26k 44% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
| Gorham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 10% above ME |
$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
$1,680±$355 47% above ME |
| South Berwick and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Lowest 58% above ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
$4,825 59% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| South Berwick and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.3% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest 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 |
| 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% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0Highest |
12.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.