Compare towns

Saco vs Salisbury 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%).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 41.8).

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.

MeasureSacoSalisburyWindham
People
Population
20,819Highest
1,609Lowest
19,188
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.9±1.5
15% above U.S.
51.5±4.5Highest
32% above U.S.
41.8±1.8Lowest
7% above U.S.
Kids under 18
16.7%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±9.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
Salisbury 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%
24.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.3%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%
2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
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
14% above U.S.
$111,591±$17kHighest
38% above U.S.
$107,934±$14k
34% above U.S.
Salisbury 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.
$363,400±$47kLowest
9% above 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±$385
12% below U.S.
$1,917±$632Highest
36% above U.S.
$1,232±$332Lowest
13% below U.S.
Salisbury 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.
$5,859Highest
88% above U.S.
$3,938Lowest
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.3%±14Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
32.7%±14.7
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
32 minHighest
21% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
19%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.3%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Salisbury and Saco 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 — #95 of 133 in ME
School district Saco Public Schools Merrimack Valley School District 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

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.