Compare towns
Old Orchard Beach vs Eliot vs Saco
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Old Orchard Beach has the oldest population (median age 58).
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
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 | Old Orchard Beach | Eliot | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,244 |
7,146Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 58±3.5Highest 29% above ME |
50.8±5.9 13% above ME |
44.9±1.5Lowest about the ME average |
| Old Orchard Beach and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Saco and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.5%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.8%±6.2 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Old Orchard Beach and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.4Lowest 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 | $60,050±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
$101,522±$10kHighest 36% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
| Eliot and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,600±$38kLowest 24% above ME |
$498,900±$62kHighest 68% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$182Lowest 9% above ME |
$1,948±$471Highest 71% above ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
| Eliot and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,426Lowest 13% above ME |
$4,549 50% above ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±15 ME: 48.4% |
55.1%±20.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Eliot and Old Orchard Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 11% below ME |
23 min 9% below ME |
24 minHighest 3% below ME |
| Work from home | 15%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.4%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.