Compare towns
Windham vs Oakham vs Gorham vs Saco
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).
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
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 | Oakham | Gorham | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188 |
1,639Lowest |
18,300 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest 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+ | 15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Oakham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% 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 | $388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Saco 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. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #95 of 133 in ME | — | #24 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Quabbin | 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 |
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.