Compare towns
Saco vs Biddeford vs Old Orchard Beach vs Dayton
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).
Old Orchard Beach has the oldest population (median age 58).
Dayton has the highest household income ($114k).
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 | Old Orchard Beach | Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
22,498Highest |
9,244 |
2,313Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6% ME: +2.6% |
+3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
58±3.5Highest 29% above ME |
42.1±5.5 6% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
6.5%±2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Dayton 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%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
33.5%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.1% ME: 36.2% |
42.8% ME: 36.2% |
27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
7%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$72,333±$4k 3% below ME |
$60,050±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
$113,750±$24kHighest 52% above ME |
| Dayton 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±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$396,600±$25k 34% above ME |
$366,600±$38kLowest 24% above ME |
$398,200±$34k 34% above ME |
| Saco and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,292±$100Highest 13% above ME |
$1,246±$182 9% above ME |
$1,215±$867Lowest 7% above ME |
| Biddeford and Saco 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 |
$3,426Lowest 13% above ME |
$3,872 28% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.7%±15Highest ME: 48.4% |
38%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Old Orchard Beach and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
14.9% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% ME: 74.3% |
48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
68.2% ME: 74.3% |
89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
22 minLowest 11% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Dayton 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 | #67 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Biddeford Public Schools | — | Dayton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Biddeford High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.1 |
— | — |
| 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.