Compare towns
Berlin vs Saco vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Saco has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Windham has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
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 | Berlin | Saco | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
20,819Highest |
19,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Saco 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #38 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Saco Public Schools | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.