Compare towns
Windham vs Sterling 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).
Sterling has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k 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.
| Measure | Windham | Sterling | Gray | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188 |
8,183Lowest |
8,429 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%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±1.8Highest 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%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest 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%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling 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% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 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. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Sterling 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. |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938 26% above U.S. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 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% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%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. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1983 3 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 |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #95 of 133 in ME | #135 of 282 in MA | #10 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Wachusett | 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 | 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.