Compare towns
Saco vs Exeter 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%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Windham has the highest household income ($108k).
Topsham has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Exeter | Windham | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
913Lowest |
19,188 |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%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. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter 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% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest 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% |
1%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
| Windham and Saco 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. |
$243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$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. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Saco 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. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Topsham 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% |
4.3% 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% |
97.7%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. |
1977Lowest 3 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. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | RSU 14 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school 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.