Compare towns
Windham vs Dover vs Saco vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% 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 | Dover | Saco | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188 |
1,466Lowest |
20,819Highest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Dover and Saco 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampden 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. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampden 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. |
$332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below 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±$332 13% below U.S. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,286±$317Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Hampden and Saco 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. |
$4,510 45% above U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest 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% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Hampden 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 | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Saco Public Schools | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | — | 14.8Highest |
| 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.