Compare towns
Saco vs Dedham vs Old Orchard Beach
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%).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Old Orchard Beach has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Dedham | Old Orchard Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
1,656Lowest |
9,244 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Lowest about the ME average |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
58±3.5Highest 29% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
6.5%±2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
33.5%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
42.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
7%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Old Orchard Beach and Saco 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 23% above ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$60,050±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
| Dedham 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 |
$356,400±$33kLowest 20% above ME |
$366,600±$38k 24% above ME |
| Saco and Old Orchard Beach 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 |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$1,246±$182Lowest 9% above ME |
| Dedham 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 |
$3,942 30% above ME |
$3,426Lowest 13% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.7%±15Highest 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
14.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
68.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% below ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
22 minLowest 11% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Old Orchard Beach 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 | — | #67 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Dedham Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.