Compare towns
Windham vs Salisbury vs Gray 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 youngest population (median age 41.8).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).
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.
| Measure | Windham | Salisbury | Gray | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188 |
1,609Lowest |
8,429 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury 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% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Gray 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% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray 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. |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Salisbury 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. |
$363,400±$47kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above 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±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Gray 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. |
$5,859Highest 88% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 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 |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury 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 | — | #10 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Merrimack Valley School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.