Compare towns
Dalton 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
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Windham has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Dalton | Saco | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Lowest |
20,819Highest |
19,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Dalton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Highest 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+ | 44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Windham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
| Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 37% above U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #192 of 282 in MA | #38 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Saco Public Schools | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| 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.