Compare towns
Windham vs Strafford vs Saco vs Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Berwick has the most people working from home (20.2%).
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 | Strafford | Saco | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188 |
1,372Lowest |
20,819Highest |
8,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Berwick 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Strafford 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. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$369,100±$19kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,452±$430Highest about the U.S. average |
| Berwick 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. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$4,436 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berwick 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick 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 | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Strafford School District | Saco Public Schools | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — | — |
| 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.