Compare towns

Windham vs Northfield 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 highest household income ($108k).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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.

MeasureWindhamNorthfieldSaco
People
Population
19,188
5,920Lowest
20,819Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±1.8
7% above U.S.
36.4±4.1Lowest
6% 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%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
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%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Northfield 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
15.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,934±$14kHighest
34% above U.S.
$71,768±$13kLowest
11% below U.S.
$92,241±$11k
14% above U.S.
Windham and Saco 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.
$274,400±$21kLowest
18% below U.S.
$413,100±$17kHighest
24% above 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.
$1,018±$207Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,249±$385Highest
12% below U.S.
Saco and Windham 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.
$4,878Highest
56% above U.S.
$4,807
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32.7%±14.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±14
U.S.: 51.1%
Northfield 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%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
27 minHighest
3% above U.S.
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
Work from home
19%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #95 of 133 in ME #42 of 70 in VT #38 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 14 Paine Mountain Union School District #68 Saco Public Schools
High school in town Windham High School Northfield Middle/High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Highest
10.0Lowest
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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.