Compare towns
Orwell vs Saco vs Whiting
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orwell has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Saco has the most people working from home (19%).
Whiting has the most affordable homes ($280k 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 | Orwell | Saco | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
20,819Highest |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 47.5±7Highest 22% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Orwell and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$92,241±$11kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$91,250±$38k 13% above U.S. |
| Saco and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$280,400±$36kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,204±$519 15% below U.S. |
| Saco and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,227 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco and Orwell 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Saco Public Schools | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| 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 |
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.