Compare towns
Saco vs Biddeford vs Kittery vs Topsham
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%).
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
Kittery has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Topsham has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
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 | Biddeford | Kittery | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
22,498Highest |
10,473 |
9,706Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
46.8±2.3Highest 4% above ME |
44.7±4 about the ME average |
| Kittery and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Topsham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.9%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Kittery and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% ME: 36.2% |
32.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
46% ME: 36.2% |
50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$72,333±$4kLowest 3% below ME |
$93,728±$14kHighest 25% above ME |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
| Kittery and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$396,600±$25k 34% above ME |
$468,500±$31kHighest 58% above ME |
$360,800±$20kLowest 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 10% above ME |
$1,292±$100 13% above ME |
$1,716±$224Highest 51% above ME |
$1,355±$642 19% above ME |
| Kittery and Topsham 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 |
$4,401 45% above ME |
$4,518 49% above ME |
$4,259Lowest 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.9 ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Topsham 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% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% ME: 74.3% |
48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
67.2% ME: 74.3% |
78.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 3% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.7%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Kittery 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #111 of 133 in ME | #17 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Biddeford Public Schools | Kittery Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Biddeford High School | Robert W Traip Academy | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.1Highest |
9.9Lowest |
12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.