Compare towns
Saco vs Strafford 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%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Saco | Strafford | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
1,372Lowest |
19,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Strafford 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. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Saco 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. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% 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 | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Strafford 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest 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 | Strafford 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 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.