Compare towns
Jackson vs Saco vs Gray
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Gray has the most kids (19% 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 | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 897Lowest |
20,819Highest |
8,429 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gray and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
| Jackson and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson and Saco 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 | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Jackson School District | Saco Public Schools | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.5 |
| 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.