Compare towns
China vs Saco vs Sidney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
China has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Saco has the most people working from home (19%).
Sidney has the most kids (23.1% 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 | China | Saco | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,526Lowest |
20,819Highest |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME |
44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
43±5.5 4% below ME |
| Saco and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| China and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
33.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Saco and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,309±$12kHighest 29% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$83,488±$10kLowest 12% above ME |
| China and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,000±$37kLowest 19% below ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$336,200±$34k 13% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,249±$385Lowest 10% above ME |
$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
| Sidney and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535 17% below ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$2,474Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 21% above ME |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Sidney 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 | #27 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Saco Public Schools | RSU 18 |
| 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.