What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jay has the most affordable homes ($169k median).

Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Jay	Saco
People
Population	4,657Lowest	20,819Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME	44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average
	Saco and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.5%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1%	16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Jay and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4%	18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Jay and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%	43.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±3.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Saco and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,238±$19kLowest 6% below ME	$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME
	Saco and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME	$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$759±$141Lowest 33% below ME	$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME
	Saco and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,245Lowest 26% below ME	$4,807Highest 58% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4%
	Saco and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.8%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 13% below ME	24 minHighest 3% below ME
Work from home	4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#86 of 133 in ME	#38 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 73	Saco Public Schools
High school in town	Spruce Mountain High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.