Compare towns
Ludlow vs Saco vs Starks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ludlow has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Saco has the most expensive homes ($413k median).
Starks has the oldest population (median age 46.7).
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 | Ludlow | Saco | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 444Lowest |
20,819Highest |
556 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.1±5.8 about the ME average |
44.9±1.5Lowest about the ME average |
46.7±9.4Highest 4% above ME |
| Starks and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Ludlow and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Starks and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Saco and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,500±$21kLowest 16% below ME |
$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
$63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $133,900±$56kLowest 55% below ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$148,500±$27k 50% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $988±$111Lowest 13% below ME |
$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$1,063±$301 7% below ME |
| Saco and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,655 45% below ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±94.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.3% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 15% below ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.8%±8 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Ludlow 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 | 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.