Compare towns
Hanson vs Middleton vs Saco
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
Middleton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
Saco has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Hanson | Middleton | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
9,816Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Saco and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402 105% above U.S. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco and Middleton 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Middleton | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
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| 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.