Compare towns

Windham vs Waterville 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).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

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.

MeasureWindhamWatervilleSaco
People
Population
19,188
680Lowest
20,819Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±1.8Lowest
7% above U.S.
49.1±8.2Highest
26% above U.S.
44.9±1.5
15% above U.S.
Waterville 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%
20.4%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Waterville 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
U.S.: 17.2%
14.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Saco and Windham 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%
32.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Waterville 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±$14kHighest
34% above U.S.
$71,250±$27kLowest
12% below U.S.
$92,241±$11k
14% above U.S.
Windham and Saco 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.
$236,300±$15kLowest
29% below U.S.
$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±$332
13% below U.S.
$1,110±$93Lowest
21% below U.S.
$1,249±$385Highest
12% 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
$3,938Lowest
26% above U.S.
$3,957
27% above U.S.
$4,807Highest
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32.7%±14.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±27.2
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±14Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Saco and Waterville 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%
4.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
38 minHighest
42% above U.S.
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
Work from home
19%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.5%±3Lowest
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 Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A Saco Public Schools
High school in town Windham High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1
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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.