Compare towns
Saco vs Needham vs Windham vs Brunswick
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 the oldest population (median age 44.9).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
Brunswick has the youngest population (median age 40).
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 | Needham | Windham | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
32,459Highest |
19,188Lowest |
22,336 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
40±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Saco and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$376,300±$15kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,469±$99 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,756 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brunswick and Needham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | #19 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME | #30 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Needham | RSU 14 | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Windham High School | Brunswick High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
12.1Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.