Compare towns

Windham vs Berlin 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).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
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.

MeasureWindhamBerlinSaco
People
Population
19,188
3,378Lowest
20,819Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±1.8Lowest
7% above U.S.
49.7±2.8Highest
28% above U.S.
44.9±1.5
15% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.2%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.4%±4.5Lowest
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%
30.1%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Saco and Berlin 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.
$121,336±$12kHighest
50% above U.S.
$92,241±$11kLowest
14% above U.S.
Berlin 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.
$616,600±$55kHighest
85% above U.S.
$413,100±$17k
24% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,232±$332Lowest
13% below U.S.
$2,420±$933Highest
71% above U.S.
$1,249±$385
12% below U.S.
Berlin 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.
$7,116Highest
128% above U.S.
$4,807
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32.7%±14.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.6%±19.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±14
U.S.: 51.1%
Berlin and Saco 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%
5%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1992Highest
12 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
34 minHighest
29% above U.S.
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
Work from home
19%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.1%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Berlin 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 #61 of 282 in MA #38 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 14 Berlin-Boylston 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.