Compare towns
Saco vs Windham vs Brunswick vs Dayton
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%).
Brunswick has the youngest population (median age 40).
Dayton has the most kids (20.4% 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 | Brunswick | Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
19,188 |
22,336Highest |
2,313Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
40±2.8Lowest 11% below ME |
42.1±5.5 6% below ME |
| Saco and Dayton 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% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Dayton 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%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% ME: 36.2% |
44.2% ME: 36.2% |
53.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$107,934±$14k 44% above ME |
$74,952±$6kLowest about the ME average |
$113,750±$24kHighest 52% above ME |
| Dayton 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 39% above ME |
$388,900±$22k 31% above ME |
$376,300±$15kLowest 27% above ME |
$398,200±$34k 34% above ME |
| Saco and Dayton 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 |
$1,469±$99Highest 29% above ME |
$1,215±$867Lowest 7% above ME |
| Brunswick 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 |
$4,756 57% above ME |
$3,872Lowest 28% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±8.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
38%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Brunswick 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% |
7.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
23 minLowest 5% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Brunswick 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 | #30 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | RSU 14 | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | Dayton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Brunswick High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
10.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.