Compare towns

Saco vs Windham vs Gorham vs Topsham

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).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Gorham has the highest household income ($112k).
Topsham has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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.

MeasureSacoWindhamGorhamTopsham
People
Population
20,819Highest
594Lowest
18,300
9,706
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.9±1.5Highest
15% above U.S.
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.7±4
15% above U.S.
Saco and Topsham 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%
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.9%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
Gorham and Topsham 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%
23.2%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Topsham and Windham 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%
48.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
50%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$92,241±$11k
14% above U.S.
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$112,312±$6kHighest
39% above U.S.
$91,028±$10kLowest
13% above U.S.
Gorham and Windham 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.
$353,900±$20kLowest
6% above U.S.
$460,900±$26kHighest
39% above U.S.
$360,800±$20k
8% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,249±$385Lowest
12% below U.S.
—
$1,680±$355Highest
19% above U.S.
$1,355±$642
4% below U.S.
Gorham and Topsham 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.
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$4,825
55% above U.S.
$4,259Lowest
37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.3%±14Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Saco and Windham 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%
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
10% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
Work from home
19%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham 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 — #24 of 133 in ME #66 of 133 in ME
School district Saco Public Schools — Gorham Public Schools RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town None in town — Gorham High School Mt Ararat High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.9Highest
12.2Lowest
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.