Compare towns
Saco vs Thompson vs Killingly 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
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 | Thompson | Killingly | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
9,337Lowest |
17,867 |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Killingly 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Thompson 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. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% 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 | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | #130 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Killingly High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
11.1 |
12.9Highest |
| 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.