Compare towns
Windham vs Saco vs Worcester vs Brookline
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 ($95k).
Saco has the most expensive homes ($413k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Saco | Worcester | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
20,819Highest |
831 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Windham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Brookline 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 | — | #38 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | — | Saco Public Schools | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.