Compare towns
Saco vs South Berwick vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | South Berwick | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
7,670Lowest |
19,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
| Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% ME: 36.2% |
41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Saco and South Berwick 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 |
$99,572±$13k 33% above ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
| Windham and South Berwick 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 |
$428,300±$26kHighest 44% above ME |
$388,900±$22kLowest 31% above ME |
| South Berwick and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
$1,232±$332Lowest 8% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 58% above ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
$3,938Lowest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| South Berwick and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.3% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 3% below ME |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.