What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monroe has the most kids (20.9% under 18).

Saco has the most people working from home (19%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Monroe	Saco
People
Population	786Lowest	20,819Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51±10.4Highest 31% above U.S.	44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Monroe and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 22%	16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Monroe and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.3%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,150±$7kLowest 9% above U.S.	$92,241±$11kHighest 14% above U.S.
	Saco and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$312,700±$58kLowest 6% below U.S.	$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$218Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,249±$385Highest 12% below U.S.
	Saco and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S.	$4,807Highest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±39Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Saco and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 4% above U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#38 of 133 in ME
School district	Monroe School District	Saco Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.