Compare towns
Saco vs Windham vs Exeter 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).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
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 | Windham | Exeter | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
19,188 |
16,151Lowest |
18,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter 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% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Windham 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% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Exeter 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. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Gorham 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. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Saco 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | RSU 14 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Exeter High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.1Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.