Compare towns
Jackson vs Saco vs Windham vs Industry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Saco has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Windham has the highest household income ($108k).
Industry has the most kids (24.4% 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 | Jackson | Saco | Windham | Industry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
20,819Highest |
19,188 |
988 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
-15.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
40.6±10.7 9% 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 | 17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
24.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Industry and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Industry and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
44.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
2%±2.2 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 | $75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
$63,056±$19kLowest 16% 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 | $231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$388,900±$22k 31% above ME |
$205,600±$31kLowest 31% 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 | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$1,049±$137 8% 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 | $2,651 13% below ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$3,938 30% above ME |
$1,793Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
65.9%±38.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Industry and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
86%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
41 minHighest 67% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #38 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Saco Public Schools | RSU 14 | — |
| High school 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 | 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.