Compare towns
Saco vs Plainfield vs Windham vs Dayton
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%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
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 | Plainfield | Windham | Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
1,314Lowest |
19,188 |
2,313 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.1±5.5 8% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dayton 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% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield 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% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$113,750±$24kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Dayton 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 24% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$398,200±$34k 20% above U.S. |
| Saco and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,215±$867 14% below U.S. |
| 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 54% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$3,872Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Saco 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | — | #95 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | — | RSU 14 | Dayton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet | 4 photos → |
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.