Compare towns
Anson vs Saco vs Windham vs Howland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Anson has the most affordable homes ($118k median).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Windham has the highest household income ($108k).
Howland has the oldest population (median age 47.6).
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 | Anson | Saco | Windham | Howland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,331 |
20,819Highest |
19,188 |
1,367Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8% ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% below ME |
47.6±10.2Highest 6% above ME |
| Howland and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.8%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Howland and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
44.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.1%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,474±$21k 30% below ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
$49,297±$21kLowest 34% below ME |
| Windham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$388,900±$22k 31% above ME |
$150,100±$52k 49% below ME |
| Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $928±$62 19% below ME |
$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$916±$246Lowest 20% below ME |
| Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,572 48% below ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$3,938 30% above ME |
$1,546Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
29%±18.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
25.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 32% above ME |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #38 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | Saco Public Schools | RSU 14 | RSU 31/MSAD 31 |
| High school in town | Carrabec High School | None in town | Windham High School | Penobscot Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | 12.1Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.