Compare towns

Windham vs Newfields 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 youngest population (median age 41.8).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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.

MeasureWindhamNewfieldsSacoGray
People
Population
19,188
2,023Lowest
20,819Highest
8,429
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%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.
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
44.9±1.5Highest
15% above U.S.
43.4±4.5
12% above U.S.
Saco and Newfields 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%
18.9%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19%±4
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Gray 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%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Gray and Saco 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%
68.1%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%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields 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±$14k
34% above U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$92,241±$11kLowest
14% above U.S.
$95,236±$8k
18% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$388,900±$22k
17% above U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$413,100±$17k
24% above U.S.
$363,700±$20kLowest
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,232±$332Lowest
13% below U.S.
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$1,249±$385
12% below U.S.
$1,371±$89
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,938
26% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% 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%
43.3%±40.8
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Lowest
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
26 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
19%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfields 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 Newfields School District 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.