Compare towns
Windham vs Mapleton vs Saco vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Mapleton | Saco | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188 |
1,884Lowest |
20,819Highest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
| 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%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Saco and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| 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 44% above ME |
$91,731±$25kLowest 23% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
| 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 31% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$301,300±$38k about the ME average |
| 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 8% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME |
| 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 30% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 7% above ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden 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 | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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 |
ME 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.