Compare towns
Newfields vs Saco vs Windham vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Saco has the most affordable homes ($413k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Newfields | Saco | Windham | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023 |
20,819Highest |
16,038 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
| Windham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newfields School District | Saco Public Schools | Windham School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.