What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saco has the shortest commute (24 min average).

Acton has the most homeowners (96.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Saco	Acton
People
Population	20,819Highest	2,721Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	+9.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.9±1.5Lowest about the ME average	52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME
Kids under 18	16.7%±2.5Highest ME: 18.1%	13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Saco and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.2%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.5%Highest ME: 36.2%	24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Saco and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME	$78,750±$15kLowest 5% above ME
	Saco and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME	$334,300±$34kLowest 13% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,249±$385 10% above ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,807Highest 58% above ME	$2,680Lowest 12% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±14Lowest ME: 48.4%	100%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Acton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	96.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 3% below ME	40 minHighest 64% above ME
Work from home	19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9%	18.2%±8.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Saco and Acton 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	#43 of 133 in ME
School district	Saco Public Schools	Acton Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.