Compare towns
Saco vs Carmel vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Carmel has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Windham has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Carmel | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
2,941Lowest |
19,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
46.4±4.5Highest 4% above ME |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% below ME |
| Carmel and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.6%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Windham and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.5%±5 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Saco and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% ME: 36.2% |
17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| 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 | $92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$82,188±$22kLowest 10% above ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above 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 | $413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$256,800±$37kLowest 13% below ME |
$388,900±$22k 31% above ME |
| Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME |
$1,232±$332Lowest 8% above ME |
| Carmel and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$2,662Lowest 12% below ME |
$3,938 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Carmel and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 3% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | #77 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.