Compare towns
Windham vs Salem 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).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Saco 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.
| Measure | Windham | Salem | Gorham | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188 |
44,795Highest |
18,300Lowest |
20,819 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%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. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| 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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
17.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saco and Gorham 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% |
47.8%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% |
8.2%±1.1 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. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 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. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
| Salem 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. |
$6,114Highest 96% 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% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 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 |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Windham 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #248 of 282 in MA | #24 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Salem | Gorham Public Schools | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Salem High | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
9.8Lowest |
12.9Highest |
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| 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.