Compare towns
Exeter vs Saco vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
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 | Exeter | Saco | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 913Lowest |
20,819Highest |
1,016 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$92,241±$11kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Saco and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385Highest 12% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Saco and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926 6% below U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco and Exeter 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 | 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.