Compare towns
Andover vs Reading 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
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).
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 | Andover | Reading | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
699 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
| Andover and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Saco and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
| Andover and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 66% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Reading 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 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.