Compare towns
Saco vs Salem 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Windham has the most kids (19.2% 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 | Salem | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819 |
30,964Highest |
19,188Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Saco and Salem 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% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem 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% |
38.7%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% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Salem 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 14% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
| Salem 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±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Salem and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | #38 of 120 in NH | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Salem School District | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
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.