Compare towns
Barnard vs Calais 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
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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.
| Measure | Barnard | Calais | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
1,713 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Saco and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Saco and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 94% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Barnard 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Saco Public Schools |
| 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 |
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.