Compare towns
Saco vs Unity vs Windham vs Biddeford
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%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Windham has the highest household income ($108k).
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
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 | Unity | Windham | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
1,375Lowest |
19,188 |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Windham and Saco 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. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
| Saco and Biddeford 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. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
| Unity and Biddeford 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Unity 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% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | — | #95 of 133 in ME | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Unity School District | RSU 14 | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Lowest |
14.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.