Compare towns
Fairlee vs Saco vs West Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
West Fairlee has the most homeowners (91.9%).
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 | Fairlee | Saco | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066 |
20,819Highest |
711Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
50.3±7.6 29% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Saco and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$92,241±$11kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$76,500±$16k 5% below U.S. |
| Saco and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$237,200±$35kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,113±$171 21% below U.S. |
| Saco and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617Highest 80% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,210 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco and Fairlee 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Saco Public Schools | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None 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.