Compare towns
Dayton vs Kennebunk vs Ogunquit vs Saco
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dayton has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
Kennebunk has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Dayton | Kennebunk | Ogunquit | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,313 |
6,221 |
1,379Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.8% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±5.5Lowest 6% below ME |
54.3±7.2 21% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Dayton and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Saco and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24k 52% above ME |
$95,169±$21k 27% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$92,241±$11kLowest 23% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,200±$34kLowest 34% above ME |
$452,800±$17k 53% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,215±$867Lowest 7% above ME |
$1,466±$261Highest 29% above ME |
— | $1,249±$385 10% above ME |
| Kennebunk and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,872Lowest 28% above ME |
$4,771 57% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±13.2 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% ME: 10.7% |
11.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% ME: 74.3% |
73.1% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 26% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
36.6%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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 | — | #9 of 133 in ME | — | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dayton Public Schools | — | — | 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 | 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.