Compare towns
Saco vs Bath vs Exeter vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saco has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
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 | Saco | Bath | Exeter | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
8,815Lowest |
16,151 |
19,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bath and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Bath 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 | #31 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | Morse High School | Exeter High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.