What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the oldest population (median age 61).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bristol	Saco
People
Population	2,917Lowest	20,819Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	61±3.2Highest 36% above ME	44.9±1.5Lowest about the ME average
Kids under 18	13.9%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	16.7%±2.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Saco and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	42.8%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4%	18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.7%Highest ME: 36.2%	43.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,750±$19kHighest 35% above ME	$92,241±$11kLowest 23% above ME
	Bristol and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$406,400±$54kLowest 37% above ME	$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME
	Saco and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,051±$106Lowest 8% below ME	$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME
	Saco and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,668Lowest 12% below ME	$4,807Highest 58% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.4%±19.2Lowest ME: 48.4%	50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4%
	Saco and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4% ME: 10.7%	6.4% ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 28% below ME	24 minHighest 3% below ME
Work from home	25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9%	19%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Bristol and Saco 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	#16 of 133 in ME	#38 of 133 in ME
School district	Bristol Public Schools	Saco Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.