Compare towns

Windham vs Pelham 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 affordable homes ($389k median).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).

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.

MeasureWindhamPelhamSaco
People
Population
19,188
14,449Lowest
20,819Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±1.8
7% above U.S.
41.5±2.7Lowest
7% above 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%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
22%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Pelham and Windham 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%
16.5%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Saco and Pelham 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%
40%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Pelham 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.
$135,956±$19kHighest
68% above U.S.
$92,241±$11kLowest
14% above U.S.
Pelham 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.
$552,600±$27kHighest
66% above U.S.
$413,100±$17k
24% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,232±$332Lowest
13% below U.S.
$1,425±$88Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,249±$385
12% below U.S.
Pelham 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.
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
$4,807
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32.7%±14.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±14
U.S.: 51.1%
Pelham 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%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
Work from home
19%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pelham 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 #48 of 120 in NH #38 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 14 Pelham School District Saco Public Schools
High school in town Windham High School Pelham High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Highest
10.4Lowest
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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.