Compare towns

Windham vs Durham 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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureWindhamDurhamSaco
People
Population
19,188
15,080Lowest
20,819Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±1.8
7% above U.S.
20.8±0.3Lowest
47% 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%
10.3%±2.1Lowest
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%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
11.5%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Saco and Windham 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%
75.4%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%
55.1%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,934±$14k
34% above U.S.
$124,056±$21kHighest
54% above U.S.
$92,241±$11kLowest
14% above U.S.
Durham 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.
$504,300±$41kHighest
52% above U.S.
$413,100±$17k
24% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,232±$332Lowest
13% below U.S.
$1,429±$143Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,249±$385
12% below U.S.
Durham 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.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,807
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32.7%±14.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.4%±16Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±14
U.S.: 51.1%
Durham 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%
15.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
Work from home
19%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Durham 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 #9 of 120 in NH #38 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 14 Oyster River Coop School District Saco Public Schools
High school in town Windham High School Oyster River High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Lowest
12.3Highest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 51 photos → 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.