Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Saco
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k 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 | Portsmouth | Saco |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
20,819Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Saco and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Saco and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Portsmouth and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018Highest 157% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Portsmouth and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth and Saco 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → |
We could not complete that request.
Please try again shortly.