Compare towns
Windham vs Alton vs Saco
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Alton has the oldest population (median age 53.7).
Saco has the most renters (27.2% 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 | Windham | Alton | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,188 |
5,994Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 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+ | 15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$113,715±$19kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Alton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$430,400±$37kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Alton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
— | $1,249±$385Highest 12% below U.S. |
| Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,183 34% above U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #95 of 133 in ME | #72 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.