Compare towns
Ryegate vs Saco vs Windham vs Barnet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Windham has the highest household income ($108k).
Barnet has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
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 | Ryegate | Saco | Windham | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,059Lowest |
20,819Highest |
19,188 |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
47.7±5.3Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Barnet and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Ryegate and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$67,386±$15k 17% below U.S. |
| Windham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,300±$32kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$247,900±$24k 25% below U.S. |
| Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$236Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$974±$72 31% below U.S. |
| Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,472Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$4,489 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±29.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #38 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Saco Public Schools | RSU 14 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school 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 |
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.