Compare towns
Saco vs Dummerston 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%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
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 | Windham | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
2,090Lowest |
19,188 |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%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. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% 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%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Topsham 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%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Dummerston 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% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 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. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% 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 |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| 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 12% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Topsham 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. |
$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% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 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. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | #95 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | RSU 14 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.