Compare towns

Windham vs Ossipee 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

Ossipee has the oldest population (median age 50).
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.

MeasureWindhamOssipeeSacoHampden
People
Population
19,188
4,521Lowest
20,819Highest
7,896
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±1.8
7% above U.S.
50±4.6Highest
29% above U.S.
44.9±1.5
15% above U.S.
41±2.9Lowest
5% above U.S.
Ossipee 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%
19.5%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25.8%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Hampden and Ossipee 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%
26.3%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Ossipee 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%
24.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.7Lowest
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.
$90,521±$22kLowest
12% above 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.
$325,500±$23k
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±$332Lowest
13% below U.S.
$1,601±$245Highest
13% above U.S.
$1,249±$385
12% below U.S.
$1,286±$317
9% below U.S.
Ossipee and Hampden 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.
$4,401
41% 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%
72%±16.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±14
U.S.: 51.1%
22.2%±15.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ossipee 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%
8.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
82%
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.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
33 minHighest
27% above U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
19%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
5.3%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
21.3%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #100 of 120 in NH #38 of 133 in ME #6 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 14 Governor Wentworth Regional School District 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
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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.