Compare towns
Saco vs Dummerston vs Biddeford 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%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
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 | Dummerston | Biddeford | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
2,090Lowest |
22,498Highest |
19,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Windham and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Saco and Biddeford 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. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Dummerston 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% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston 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 | — | #111 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Biddeford Public Schools | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Biddeford High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.1Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.