Compare towns

Embden vs Saco

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Embden has the most affordable homes ($173k 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.

MeasureEmbdenSaco
People
Population
995Lowest
20,819Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+10.3%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
60.6±5.1Highest
35% above ME
44.9±1.5Lowest
about the ME average
Kids under 18
13.2%±5.5Lowest
ME: 18.1%
16.7%±2.5Highest
ME: 18.1%
Saco and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
34.6%±9.5Highest
ME: 22.4%
18.5%±2.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
16.2%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
43.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.4%±1.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5.2%±1.2Highest
ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,875±$23kLowest
24% below ME
$92,241±$11kHighest
23% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$173,400±$59kLowest
42% below ME
$413,100±$17kHighest
39% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,249±$385
10% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,804Lowest
41% below ME
$4,807Highest
58% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
ME: 48.4%
50.3%±14Highest
ME: 48.4%
Saco and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.2%Highest
ME: 10.7%
6.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
72.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Lowest
3 yrs newer than ME
1982Highest
5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
34% above ME
24 minLowest
3% below ME
Work from home
18.7%±7.5Lowest
ME: 15.9%
19%±3.6Highest
ME: 15.9%
Saco and Embden 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 — Saco Public Schools
High school 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.