Compare towns
Hermon vs Saco vs South Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
Saco has the oldest population (median age 44.9).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Hermon | Saco | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,727Lowest |
20,819Highest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +19.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±4.7 8% below ME |
44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
| Saco and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Hermon and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Saco and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,629±$22k 29% above ME |
$92,241±$11kLowest 23% above ME |
$99,572±$13kHighest 33% above ME |
| South Berwick and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,600±$32kLowest 12% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$428,300±$26kHighest 44% above ME |
| South Berwick and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$202 23% above ME |
$1,249±$385Lowest 10% above ME |
$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,761Lowest 9% below ME |
$4,807 58% above ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.2%±19.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| South Berwick and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.2% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2000Highest 23 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 8% below ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and South Berwick 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 | #54 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hermon Public Schools | Saco Public Schools | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Hermon High School | None in town | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
— | 13.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.