Compare towns
Saco vs Gardner vs Windham vs Kittery
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%).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
Kittery has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Gardner | Windham | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
21,148Highest |
19,188 |
10,473Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Kittery 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% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Gardner 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% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Gardner 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. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
| Windham and Kittery 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. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Kittery 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. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Gardner 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% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Gardner | RSU 14 | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | Windham High School | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
12.1 |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.