Compare towns

Windham vs Stowe 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).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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.

MeasureWindhamStoweSaco
People
Population
19,188
5,285Lowest
20,819Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+21.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±1.8Lowest
7% above U.S.
46.3±7.6Highest
19% above U.S.
44.9±1.5
15% above U.S.
Stowe 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%
22.5%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Stowe 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%
25.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Stowe 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%
66.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,934±$14kHighest
34% above U.S.
$93,618±$33k
16% above U.S.
$92,241±$11kLowest
14% above U.S.
Windham and Stowe 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.
$647,800±$157kHighest
95% above U.S.
$413,100±$17k
24% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,232±$332Lowest
13% below U.S.
$1,458±$242Highest
3% above U.S.
$1,249±$385
12% below U.S.
Stowe 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.
$7,161Highest
130% above U.S.
$4,807
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32.7%±14.7
U.S.: 51.1%
24.5%±15.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±14Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Saco and Windham 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%
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.6%
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.
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
Work from home
19%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.4%±8.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Stowe 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 — #38 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 14 Stowe Town School District Saco Public Schools
High school in town Windham High School Stowe High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Highest
11.3Lowest
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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.