Compare towns
Windham vs Ayer 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 homeowners (84.6%).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Saco has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Ayer | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,188 |
8,645Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saco and Windham 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% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Windham and Ayer 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. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Saco 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. |
$5,057Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Ayer 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% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 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%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #113 of 282 in MA | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Ayer Shirley School District | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.