Compare towns
Saco vs Castleton vs Biddeford vs Kittery
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%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
Kittery has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Castleton | Biddeford | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
4,453Lowest |
22,498Highest |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$93,728±$14kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| 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 24% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #111 of 133 in ME | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Biddeford Public Schools | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Biddeford High School | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.1Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.