Compare towns

Saco vs New Gloucester 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%).
New Gloucester has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).

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.

MeasureSacoNew GloucesterWindham
People
Population
20,819Highest
5,766Lowest
19,188
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.3%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+2.4%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+8.4%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
44.9±1.5Highest
about the ME average
40.1±5.5Lowest
10% below ME
41.8±1.8
7% below ME
Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.7%±2.5Lowest
ME: 18.1%
24.2%±5.8Highest
ME: 18.1%
19.2%±2.7
ME: 18.1%
New Gloucester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.5%±2.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
15.4%±4.2Lowest
ME: 22.4%
15.9%±2.1
ME: 22.4%
Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.5%
ME: 36.2%
30.7%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
44.2%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±1.2Highest
ME: 5.8%
3.3%±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
$108,797±$12kHighest
46% above ME
$107,934±$14k
44% above ME
New Gloucester 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±$17kHighest
39% above ME
$357,100±$29kLowest
20% above ME
$388,900±$22k
31% above ME
Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,249±$385Highest
10% above ME
$1,150±$249Lowest
about the ME average
$1,232±$332
8% above ME
Saco and Windham 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
$3,417Lowest
13% above ME
$3,938
30% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.3%±14Highest
ME: 48.4%
24.7%±12Lowest
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%
4.3%
ME: 10.7%
3.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
82.9%
ME: 74.3%
84.6%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Lowest
5 yrs newer than ME
1991Highest
14 yrs newer than ME
1985
8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
3% below ME
27 minHighest
9% above ME
26 min
7% above ME
Work from home
19%±3.6Highest
ME: 15.9%
14.2%±6.5Lowest
ME: 15.9%
19%±4.1Highest
ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #38 of 133 in ME #65 of 133 in ME #95 of 133 in ME
School district Saco Public Schools RSU 15/MSAD 15 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.