Compare towns
Windham vs Calais vs Saco vs Gray
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 highest household income ($108k).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
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 | Calais | Saco | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188 |
1,713Lowest |
20,819Highest |
8,429 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
| Saco and Gray 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% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais 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% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Gray 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. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
| Windham and Calais 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. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Saco and Calais 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. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938 26% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray 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% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 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. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais 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 | — | #38 of 133 in ME | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Saco Public Schools | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | — | 12.5Highest |
| 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.