Compare towns
Lyman vs Saco vs Minot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyman has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Minot has the most affordable homes ($295k median).
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 | Lyman | Saco | Minot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,612 |
20,819Highest |
2,794Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
44.9±1.5Lowest about the ME average |
49±6.1 9% above ME |
| Lyman and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Saco and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Lyman and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Saco and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,284±$14kLowest 17% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$95,655±$17kHighest 28% above ME |
| Minot and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,400±$44k 22% above ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$294,900±$26kLowest about the ME average |
| Saco and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$522 7% below ME |
$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$878±$801Lowest 23% below ME |
| Saco and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,717 11% below ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$2,602Lowest 14% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±40.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
6.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 35% above ME |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Lyman 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 | #40 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | #78 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Saco Public Schools | RSU 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.