Compare towns
Saco vs Gray vs Lyme 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%).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
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 | Gray | Lyme | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
8,429 |
1,710Lowest |
19,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Lyme 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% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme 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% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray 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. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Windham 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. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Gray 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. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Lyme 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% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | — | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Lyme School District | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.