Compare towns
Dayton vs Ogunquit vs Saco vs Biddeford
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% 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 | Ogunquit | Saco | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,313 |
1,379Lowest |
20,819 |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±5.5 6% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Dayton and Saco 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
32.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24k 52% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$72,333±$4kLowest 3% below 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±$34k 34% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$396,600±$25kLowest 34% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,215±$867Lowest 7% above ME |
— | $1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,292±$100Highest 13% above ME |
| Biddeford 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 |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$4,401 45% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6 ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Dayton 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8% ME: 74.3% |
48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 26% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #38 of 133 in ME | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dayton Public Schools | — | Saco Public Schools | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 14.1 |
| 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.