Compare towns
Mapleton vs Old Orchard Beach vs Saco
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Old Orchard Beach has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Mapleton | Old Orchard Beach | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,884Lowest |
9,244 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.9% ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
58±3.5Highest 29% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
6.5%±2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
33.5%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
42.8% ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
7%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Old Orchard Beach and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$60,050±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
| Saco and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$366,600±$38k 24% above ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
| Saco and Old Orchard Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,246±$182 9% above ME |
$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
| Saco and Old Orchard Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,426 13% above ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.7%±15Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
| Old Orchard Beach and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% ME: 10.7% |
14.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
68.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
72.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% above ME |
22 minLowest 11% below ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Old Orchard Beach 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 | — | #67 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 23 | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Old Orchard Beach High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.6 |
— |
| 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.