Compare towns
Saco vs Windham vs Newfields 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 the oldest population (median age 44.9).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
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 | Windham | Newfields | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
16,038 |
2,023Lowest |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Saco and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saco and Biddeford 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% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Biddeford and Newfields 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 14% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Newfields 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. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$396,600±$25kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Windham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Saco 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | — | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Windham School District | Newfields School District | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Lowest |
— | 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.