Compare towns
Saco vs Hanson 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%).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
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 | Hanson | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
10,660Lowest |
19,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Saco and Hanson 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% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson 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% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Saco 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% |
42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Hanson 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. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Saco 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. |
$6,402Highest 105% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Saco 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | #149 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Whitman-Hanson | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.