Compare towns
Saco vs Wilder 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1982).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Wilder | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
3,087Lowest |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Wilder and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% 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 | $4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,505Highest 76% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Wilder 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% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | — | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | — | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.