Compare towns
Saco vs Waterville 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).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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 | Waterville | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
17,077Lowest |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+0.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
35.5±2.5Lowest 21% below ME |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Saco 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% |
18.3%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Saco and Waterville 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% |
30.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$53,580±$4kLowest 28% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$184,600±$21kLowest 38% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$978±$72Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
| 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 58% above ME |
$2,755Lowest 9% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
50.5%±8.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Waterville 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% |
20.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% ME: 74.3% |
48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% below ME |
18 minLowest 27% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.6%±5.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | #105 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Waterville Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Waterville Senior High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| 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.