Compare towns
Jackson vs Saco vs Sorrento
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has the most affordable homes ($232k median).
Saco has the most expensive homes ($413k median).
Sorrento has the most kids (19.4% 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 | Jackson | Saco | Sorrento |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567 |
20,819Highest |
345Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
33.8±23.7Lowest 25% below ME |
| Saco and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±7.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Sorrento and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±10Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Sorrento and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
51%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±4.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Saco and Sorrento are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,167±$19kLowest about the ME average |
$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
$83,438±$10k 12% above ME |
| Saco and Sorrento are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,500±$16kLowest 22% below ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$298,800±$38k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,696±$433Highest 49% above ME |
| Sorrento and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,651 13% below ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$1,929Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
4.8%±91.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
34 min 39% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.4%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Jackson 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 | 6 photos → | 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.