Compare towns
Windham vs Surry 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).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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.
| Measure | Windham | Surry | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,188 |
1,052Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.7±5.1 15% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Saco and Surry 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% |
20.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Surry 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% |
23.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Surry 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry 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. |
$110,125±$25kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Surry 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. |
$331,400±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
| Surry 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. |
$6,384Highest 105% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #95 of 133 in ME | — | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | — | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Windham High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.