Compare towns
Saco vs Ogunquit vs South Windham vs Dayton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saco has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
South Windham has the most affordable homes ($314k median).
Dayton has the most kids (20.4% 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 | Ogunquit | South Windham | Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
1,379 |
1,212Lowest |
2,313 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
36.5±13.2Lowest 19% below ME |
42.1±5.5 6% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2 ME: 18.1% |
3.6%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Dayton 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
7.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
35.6% ME: 36.2% |
27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.9%±5.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| South Windham 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 23% above ME |
$114,259±$56k 53% above ME |
$133,223±$21kHighest 78% above ME |
$113,750±$24k 52% above ME |
| South Windham and Ogunquit 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$314,300±$81kLowest 6% above ME |
$398,200±$34k 34% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 10% above ME |
— | $1,824±$2kHighest 60% above ME |
$1,215±$867Lowest 7% above ME |
| South Windham 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 |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$2,941Lowest 3% below ME |
$3,872 28% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
0%±27.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.6% ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 3% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
34 minHighest 37% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
24.5%±15.8 ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and South Windham 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | — | — | Dayton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.