Compare towns
Putnam vs Saco vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most homeowners (95.9%).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Putnam | Saco | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540Lowest |
20,819Highest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Putnam and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,249±$385Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Saco and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco and Benson 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 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Saco Public Schools | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.