What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).

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	Dedham	Saco
People
Population	1,656Lowest	20,819Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME	44.9±1.5Lowest about the ME average
	Dedham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%	16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	18.7%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4%	18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Dedham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.5%Highest ME: 36.2%	43.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Saco and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME	$92,241±$11kLowest 23% above ME
	Dedham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$356,400±$33kLowest 20% above ME	$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME	$1,249±$385Lowest 10% above ME
	Dedham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,942Lowest 30% above ME	$4,807Highest 58% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4%
	Saco and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 22% above ME	24 minLowest 3% below ME
Work from home	9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#38 of 133 in ME
School district	Dedham 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.