Compare towns
Windham vs Thompson vs Saco vs Standish
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 most kids (19.2% under 18).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Standish has the most homeowners (91.2%).
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 | Thompson | Saco | Standish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188 |
9,337Lowest |
20,819Highest |
10,662 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
36% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$104,593±$15k 30% above U.S. |
| Windham and Standish 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$336,000±$18k about the U.S. average |
| 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±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385Highest 12% below U.S. |
$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Saco and Windham 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. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Standish and Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #95 of 133 in ME | #130 of 149 in CT | #38 of 133 in ME | #18 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Thompson School District | Saco Public Schools | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | Bonny Eagle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
7.9Lowest |
— | 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.