Compare towns
Saco vs Harpswell vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Windham has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
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 | Harpswell | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
5,046Lowest |
19,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Windham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
44.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Saco and Windham 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 23% above ME |
$96,250±$15k 29% above ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
| Windham and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
$388,900±$22kLowest 31% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,348±$53Highest 18% above ME |
$1,232±$332Lowest 8% above ME |
| Harpswell and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$3,141Lowest 3% above ME |
$3,938 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.6% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 3% below ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Harpswell 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 |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.