Compare towns
Saco vs Dedham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
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 | Dedham | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819 |
25,237Highest |
19,188Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Saco and Dedham 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% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Dedham 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% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Saco 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% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
| Dedham 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. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Saco 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Dedham | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.