Compare towns
Eddington vs Saco vs Orono
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eddington has the oldest population (median age 54.9).
Saco has the most expensive homes ($413k median).
Orono has the youngest population (median age 21.6).
Orono is a college town. 59.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Eddington | Saco | Orono |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,223Lowest |
20,819Highest |
11,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.9±4.1Highest 23% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
21.6±0.3Lowest 52% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
6.8%±1.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Saco and Eddington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
11%±2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
69.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
59.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,350±$18k about the ME average |
$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
$59,784±$5kLowest 20% below ME |
| Saco and Eddington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,000±$45k 10% below ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$262,900±$39kLowest 11% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$49Lowest about the ME average |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,280±$117Highest 12% above ME |
| Orono and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,758Lowest 9% below ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$4,778 57% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±45.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
60.2%±11.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Orono and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
27%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8% ME: 74.3% |
41.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 30% above ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
15 minLowest 38% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.6%±9.6 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Eddington 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 | #26 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 63/MSAD 63 | Saco Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.