Compare towns
Dover vs Saco vs Carlisle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Saco has the most affordable homes ($413k median).
Carlisle has the most kids (26.4% 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 | Dover | Saco | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
20,819Highest |
5,239 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.3±3.1 16% above U.S. |
| Dover and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Carlisle and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Carlisle and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$1,103,900±$46k 232% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,313±$855Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Carlisle and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77%±21.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
38.5%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Carlisle and Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #38 of 133 in ME | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Saco Public Schools | Carlisle |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.