Compare towns
Canton vs Saco vs Windham vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Windham has the highest household income ($108k).
Jay has the shortest commute (21 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 | Canton | Saco | Windham | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,191Lowest |
20,819Highest |
19,188 |
4,657 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
| Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Canton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.7%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Canton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
44.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Saco and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
$70,238±$19k 6% 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 | $165,000±$50kLowest 44% below ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$388,900±$22k 31% above ME |
$168,600±$27k 43% 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 | $485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$759±$141 33% 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 | $2,277 25% below ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$3,938 30% above ME |
$2,245Lowest 26% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 42% above ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #38 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | #86 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Saco Public Schools | RSU 14 | RSU 73 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Windham High School | Spruce Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.