Compare towns
Windham vs Jefferson vs Gorham vs Saco
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
Jefferson has the most kids (28% under 18).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).
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 | Jefferson | Gorham | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188 |
2,647Lowest |
18,300 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+5.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
44.9±1.5Highest about the ME 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 ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson 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 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Jefferson and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% ME: 36.2% |
27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 44% above ME |
$85,078±$17kLowest 14% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
| Gorham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,900±$22k 31% above ME |
$311,600±$35kLowest 5% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$1,120±$130Lowest about the ME average |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
| Gorham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938 30% above ME |
$2,587Lowest 15% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$4,807 58% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 7% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #95 of 133 in ME | #45 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Jefferson Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.