Compare towns
Porter vs Saco vs Freedom
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Porter has the most affordable homes ($226k median).
Saco has the highest household income ($92k).
Freedom has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
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 | Porter | Saco | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,746 |
20,819Highest |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±7.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Porter and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,417±$9kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$92,241±$11kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$66,136±$14k 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $226,100±$20kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$389,000±$43k 17% above U.S. |
| Saco and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,841Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,478 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freedom and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco and Freedom 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 | — | Saco Public Schools | Freedom School District |
| High school 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.