Compare towns
Jay vs Saco vs Windham vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Windham has the highest household income ($108k).
Pittsfield has the most kids (22.5% 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 | Jay | Saco | Windham | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,657 |
20,819Highest |
19,188 |
3,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8% ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
40±6.5 11% 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 | 17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Pittsfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
15.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Jay and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
44.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Pittsfield and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
$57,381±$12kLowest 23% 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 | $168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$388,900±$22k 31% above ME |
$164,100±$17kLowest 45% 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 | $759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$825±$260 28% 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 | $2,245 26% below ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$3,938 30% above ME |
$1,965Lowest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
50.5%±21.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Pittsfield and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.8% ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
76.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
24 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.6%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #86 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | #125 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 73 | Saco Public Schools | RSU 14 | RSU 53/MSAD 53 |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.