Compare towns
Old Orchard Beach vs Saco vs North Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Old Orchard Beach has the oldest population (median age 58).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
North Windham has the most homeowners (80.1%).
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 | Old Orchard Beach | Saco | North Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,244 |
20,819Highest |
5,417Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 58±3.5Highest 29% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
42±3Lowest 6% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±4.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Saco and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.5%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8% ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
37%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Old Orchard Beach and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,050±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
$88,522±$8k 18% above ME |
| Saco and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,600±$38k 24% above ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$342,800±$29kLowest 16% above ME |
| Saco and Old Orchard Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$182Lowest 9% above ME |
$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$1,248±$604 10% above ME |
| Saco and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,426Lowest 13% above ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$3,546 17% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±15Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
30.7%±14.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Old Orchard Beach and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
6.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
72.8% ME: 74.3% |
80.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 11% below ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 15%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| North 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 | #67 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Saco Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.