Compare towns
Phillips vs Saco vs Windham vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Phillips has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Windham has the highest household income ($108k).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
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 | Phillips | Saco | Windham | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,094Lowest |
20,819Highest |
19,188 |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.7±3.7Highest 11% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% below ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
| Phillips and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Phillips and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Strong and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
44.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Saco and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
$47,557±$10k 36% 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 | $190,800±$18k 36% below ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$388,900±$22k 31% above ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% 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 | $483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$920±$276 19% 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 | $2,582 15% below ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$3,938 30% above ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 8% below ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.8%±7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #38 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | Saco Public Schools | RSU 14 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| 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.