Compare towns
Saco vs Danvers vs Windham vs Topsham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k 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 | Saco | Danvers | Windham | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
28,098Highest |
19,188 |
9,706Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Danvers 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Windham 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% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Topsham 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. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Danvers 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. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Danvers and Topsham 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. |
$6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Danvers and Saco 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | RSU 14 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Windham High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.