Compare towns
Windham vs Barnstead 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 youngest population (median age 41.8).
Barnstead has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Barnstead | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,188 |
4,994Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Saco and Barnstead 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% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Windham 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% |
20.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnstead 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% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Saco 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. |
$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Barnstead 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±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Saco and Windham 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. |
$1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
| Barnstead 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. |
$6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Barnstead 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #95 of 133 in ME | #111 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Barnstead School District | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.