Compare towns
New Vineyard vs Mapleton vs Saco vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Vineyard has the most kids (24.5% under 18).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k 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 | New Vineyard | Mapleton | Saco | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 607Lowest |
1,884 |
20,819Highest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.5±9.5Highest 6% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
47.5±8.9Highest 6% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 24.5%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| New Vineyard and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| New Vineyard and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Saco and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,806±$19k 17% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below 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 | $190,000±$76k 36% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $925±$490 19% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
| Saco and New Vineyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,136 30% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±5.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
| New Vineyard and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 39% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.7%±8.6 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Strong 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 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Saco Public Schools | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| 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 | 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.