Compare towns
Saco vs Putnam vs Windham
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 most expensive homes ($413k median).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Windham has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Putnam | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
9,292Lowest |
19,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Saco and Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Putnam 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Windham and Saco 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. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| 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 12% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Putnam 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | #128 of 149 in CT | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Putnam School District | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.