What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dayton has the highest household income ($114k).

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	Dayton	Saco
People
Population	2,313Lowest	20,819Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.1±5.5Lowest 6% below ME	44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average
	Saco and Dayton 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%	16.7%±2.5Lowest 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%	18.5%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Saco and Dayton 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%	43.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Lowest 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±$24kHighest 52% above ME	$92,241±$11kLowest 23% above ME
	Dayton and Saco 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	$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME
	Saco and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,215±$867Lowest 7% above ME	$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME
	Saco and Dayton 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	$4,807Highest 58% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	50.3%±14Highest 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%Lowest ME: 10.7%	6.4%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 26% above ME	24 minLowest 3% below ME
Work from home	16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Saco and Dayton 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	Dayton 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.