Compare towns
Saco vs Belfast
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Belfast 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 | Saco | Belfast |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
6,986Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Lowest about the ME average |
60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Saco and Belfast 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% |
39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
42.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
$67,679±$9kLowest 9% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$340,900±$34kLowest 15% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$962±$92Lowest 16% below ME |
| Saco and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$4,145Lowest 37% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
47.4%±14.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Belfast 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% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 3% below ME |
22 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
12%±6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Belfast 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 | #84 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | RSU 71 |
| High school in town | None in town | Belfast Area High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.