Compare towns
Windham vs Dracut vs Saco 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
Windham has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
Dracut has the most expensive homes ($474k median).
Saco has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
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 | Windham | Dracut | Saco | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188 |
32,574Highest |
20,819 |
18,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dracut and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saco and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,375Highest 72% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #95 of 133 in ME | #201 of 282 in MA | #38 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Dracut | Saco Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Dracut Senior High | None in town | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| 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.