Compare towns
Mapleton vs Saco vs South Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
South Windham has the highest household income ($133k).
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 | Mapleton | Saco | South Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,884 |
20,819Highest |
1,212Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
36.5±13.2Lowest 19% below ME |
| Saco and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
3.6%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
7.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Saco and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
35.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
6.9%±5.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| South Windham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25kLowest 23% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$133,223±$21kHighest 78% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$314,300±$81k 6% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,824±$2kHighest 60% above ME |
| South Windham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$2,941 3% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±27.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 8.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
34 minHighest 37% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
24.5%±15.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| South Windham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #38 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Saco Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.