Compare towns

Ripton vs Saco vs Windham vs Worcester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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.

MeasureRiptonSacoWindhamWorcester
People
Population
508Lowest
20,819Highest
594
831
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
44.9±1.5
15% above U.S.
44.2±7.4Lowest
14% above U.S.
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
Ripton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$92,241±$11k
14% above U.S.
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$394,400±$61k
19% above U.S.
$413,100±$17kHighest
24% above U.S.
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
Saco and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,249±$385Highest
12% below U.S.
—
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
Saco and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,915
58% above U.S.
$4,807
54% above U.S.
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±14
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
9% below U.S.
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
Work from home
17.2%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester and Windham 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 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Saco Public Schools — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town None in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet 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.