Compare towns

Windham vs Dover 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%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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.

MeasureWindhamDoverSaco
People
Population
19,188Lowest
33,364Highest
20,819
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±1.8
7% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
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%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Dover 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%
16.8%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Saco and Dover 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%
52%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%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover 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±$14kHighest
34% above U.S.
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
$92,241±$11kLowest
14% above U.S.
Windham and Dover 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.
$436,700±$20kHighest
31% above U.S.
$413,100±$17k
24% above U.S.
Dover and Saco 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.
$1,607±$100Highest
14% above U.S.
$1,249±$385
12% below U.S.
Dover 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.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$4,807
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32.7%±14.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±14Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Saco and Dover 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%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
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.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
Work from home
19%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #95 of 133 in ME #64 of 120 in NH #38 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 14 Dover School District Saco Public Schools
High school in town Windham High School Dover Senior High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Lowest
12.7Highest
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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.