Compare towns
Eliot vs Saco vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Eliot | Saco | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
20,819Highest |
19,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 13% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% below ME |
| Eliot and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Windham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1 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 | $101,522±$10k 36% above ME |
$92,241±$11kLowest 23% above ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
| Windham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 68% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$388,900±$22kLowest 31% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 71% above ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,232±$332Lowest 8% above ME |
| Eliot and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 50% above ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$3,938Lowest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Eliot and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 9% below ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | 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 Our Story | 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.