Compare towns
Jay vs Saco vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Pittsfield has the most kids (22.5% 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 | Jay | Saco | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,657 |
20,819Highest |
3,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8% ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
40±6.5 11% below ME |
| Saco and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Pittsfield and Jay 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%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
15.2%±3.6Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Pittsfield and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
$57,381±$12kLowest 23% below 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±$27k 43% below ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$164,100±$17kLowest 45% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$825±$260 28% below ME |
| Saco and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245 26% below ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$1,965Lowest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
50.5%±21.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Pittsfield and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.8% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
76.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
24 minHighest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.6%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Pittsfield 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 | #86 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | #125 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 73 | Saco Public Schools | RSU 53/MSAD 53 |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.