Compare towns
Saco vs Bristol vs Kittery
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%).
Bristol has the oldest population (median age 61).
Kittery has the most expensive homes ($469k median).
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 | Bristol | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
2,917Lowest |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Lowest about the ME average |
61±3.2Highest 36% above ME |
46.8±2.3 4% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±2.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Saco and Kittery 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% |
42.8%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.9%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
46% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Saco and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11kLowest 23% above ME |
$100,750±$19kHighest 35% above ME |
$93,728±$14k 25% above ME |
| Bristol and Kittery 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 |
$406,400±$54kLowest 37% above ME |
$468,500±$31kHighest 58% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,051±$106Lowest 8% below ME |
$1,716±$224Highest 51% above ME |
| Kittery 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 |
$2,668Lowest 12% below ME |
$4,518 49% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
23.4%±19.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Kittery 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% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
67.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1968 9 yrs older than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 3% below ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
20 min 19% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
22.7%±7.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Bristol and Kittery 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 | #16 of 133 in ME | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Bristol Public Schools | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.