Compare towns
Saco vs Braintree vs Dayton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
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 | Braintree | Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
1,026Lowest |
2,313 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
42.1±5.5Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5kLowest about the U.S. average |
$113,750±$24kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| 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 24% above U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$398,200±$34k 20% above U.S. |
| 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±$385Highest 12% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,215±$867 14% below U.S. |
| Saco and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$3,872Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
38%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Dayton Public Schools |
| 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.