Compare towns
Jay vs Kittery vs Saco
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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.
| Measure | Jay | Kittery | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
10,473 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Jay and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Saco and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$93,728±$14kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$468,500±$31kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,716±$224Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Kittery and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Kittery 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 | — | #17 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Kittery Public Schools | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— |
| 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.