Compare towns
Windham vs Unity vs Saco vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Saco | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188 |
1,858Lowest |
20,819Highest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
| Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Saco and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 44% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
| Hampden 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 31% above ME |
$206,900±$28kLowest 30% below ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$301,300±$38k about the ME 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 8% above ME |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME |
| Hampden and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938 30% above ME |
$2,510Lowest 17% below ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
72.8% ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 7% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden 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 | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | Saco Public Schools | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.4 |
— | 14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.