Compare towns
Saco vs Stowe 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 affordable homes ($413k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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.
| Measure | Saco | Stowe | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
5,285Lowest |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Stowe and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe and Gorham 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% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Stowe 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. |
$7,161Highest 130% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Gorham 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe 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 | — | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Stowe Town School District | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Stowe High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| 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.