Compare towns
Gray vs Saco vs Windham vs Woolwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Windham has the highest household income ($108k).
Woolwich has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
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 | Gray | Saco | Windham | Woolwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429 |
20,819Highest |
19,188 |
3,158Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
-0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% below ME |
55.8±5.5Highest 25% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
15%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Windham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.2% ME: 36.2% |
52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Gray and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,236±$8k 27% above ME |
$92,241±$11kLowest 23% above ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
$102,175±$26k 37% above ME |
| Windham and Woolwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$20k 23% above ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$388,900±$22k 31% above ME |
$254,500±$59kLowest 14% 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 | $1,371±$89Highest 20% above ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,232±$332Lowest 8% above ME |
— |
| Gray and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683 21% above ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$3,938 30% above ME |
$2,433Lowest 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
64.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Woolwich and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 16% above ME |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #10 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | #92 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Saco Public Schools | RSU 14 | RSU 01 - LKRSU |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.