What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dresden has the most affordable homes ($240k median).

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	Dresden	Saco
People
Population	1,645Lowest	20,819Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME	44.9±1.5Lowest about the ME average
Kids under 18	17%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1%	16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Dresden and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.8%±8Highest ME: 22.4%	18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Dresden and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%	43.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Saco and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,844±$22kLowest about the ME average	$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME
	Saco and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME	$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,194±$502Lowest 5% above ME	$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME
	Saco and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,500Lowest 18% below ME	$4,807Highest 58% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4%	50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4%
	Saco and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 35% above ME	24 minLowest 3% below ME
Work from home	6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#38 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 02	Saco Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.