Compare towns
Alfred vs Saco vs Bowdoin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Bowdoin has the most affordable homes ($293k median).
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 | Alfred | Saco | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,125Lowest |
20,819Highest |
3,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±5.3Highest about the ME average |
44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
44.3±10Lowest about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±6.3 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Bowdoin and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±5.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Alfred and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Saco and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,321±$18kLowest 10% above ME |
$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
$91,239±$13k 22% above ME |
| Saco and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,300±$38k 15% above ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$292,800±$71kLowest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,035±$432Lowest 9% below ME |
$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
— |
| Saco and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,543 17% above ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$3,375Lowest 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 82.2%±29.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Alfred and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7 ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Bowdoin 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 | #74 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Saco Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.