Compare towns
Windham vs Berlin vs Saco vs Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most expensive homes ($617k median).
Saco has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Berwick has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
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 | Berlin | Saco | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188 |
3,378Lowest |
20,819Highest |
8,175 |
| 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% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick 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% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7Lowest 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. |
$94,771±$24k 17% 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±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$369,100±$19kLowest 11% 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. |
$1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
| Berlin and Berwick 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. |
$4,436 42% 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% |
50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Berwick 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% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Highest 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. |
1989 9 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. |
30 min 12% above 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% |
20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Berwick 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 | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Berlin-Boylston | Saco Public Schools | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | 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 | 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.