What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).

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	Newington	Saco
People
Population	939Lowest	20,819Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.7±10.1Highest 25% above U.S.	44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Newington and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Saco and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Newington and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Saco and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S.	$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S.
	Newington and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S.	$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S.	$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S.
	Newington and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,081Highest 95% above U.S.	$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1%	50.3%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newington and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 12% below U.S.	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	8%±2.4Lowest 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	Newington School District	Saco Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.