Compare towns
Saco vs Surry 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 renters (27.2% rent).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Surry | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
1,052Lowest |
19,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.7±5.1 15% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Saco and Surry 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% |
20.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Surry 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% |
23.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Surry 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% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Saco 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. |
$110,125±$25kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
| Surry 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. |
$331,400±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Surry 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. |
$6,384Highest 105% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Surry 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% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% 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 min 10% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1Lowest 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 | — | RSU 14 |
| High school 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.