Compare towns

Saco vs Dover 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%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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.

MeasureSacoDoverWindham
People
Population
20,819
33,364Highest
19,188Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.9±1.5Highest
15% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
41.8±1.8
7% above U.S.
Saco and Windham 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%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.5%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
15.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Saco and Dover 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%
52%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover 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.
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
$107,934±$14kHighest
34% above U.S.
Windham and Dover 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.
$436,700±$20kHighest
31% above U.S.
$388,900±$22kLowest
17% above U.S.
Dover and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,249±$385
12% below U.S.
$1,607±$100Highest
14% above U.S.
$1,232±$332Lowest
13% below U.S.
Dover 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.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$3,938Lowest
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.3%±14Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
32.7%±14.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Saco and Dover 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%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
10% below U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
19%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #38 of 133 in ME #64 of 120 in NH #95 of 133 in ME
School district Saco Public Schools Dover School District RSU 14
High school in town None in town Dover Senior High School Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.7Highest
12.1Lowest
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.