Compare towns
Saco vs Windham vs Bath vs Topsham
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%).
Windham has the highest household income ($108k).
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Topsham has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
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 | Windham | Bath | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
19,188 |
8,815Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% below ME |
45.4±3Highest about the ME average |
44.7±4 about the ME average |
| Bath and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
15.5%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Topsham 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 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.2%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Bath and Topsham 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% |
44.2% ME: 36.2% |
42.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.5%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Bath 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±$11k 23% above ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
$69,390±$12kLowest 7% below ME |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
| 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 39% above ME |
$388,900±$22k 31% above ME |
$310,900±$30kLowest 5% above ME |
$360,800±$20k 22% above ME |
| 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 10% above ME |
$1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$1,044±$116Lowest 8% below ME |
$1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME |
| Topsham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$3,938 30% above ME |
$3,847Lowest 27% above ME |
$4,259 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
51.3%±15.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Bath and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
64.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
24 min about the ME average |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±6Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Bath 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 | #31 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | RSU 14 | RSU 01 - LKRSU | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Morse High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
14.8Highest |
12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.