Compare towns
Windham vs Ripton 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
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 | Ripton | Gorham | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188 |
508Lowest |
18,300 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Saco 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ripton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Ripton 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. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332Lowest 13% 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. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton 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% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%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. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs 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 |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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.