Compare towns
Saco vs Williston vs Middlesex 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 renters (27.2% rent).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Gorham has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
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 | Williston | Middlesex | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
10,144 |
1,943Lowest |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Middlesex 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Middlesex 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. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
| Williston and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
| Williston and Gorham 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. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.9 |
| 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.