What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saco has the most expensive homes ($413k median).

Durham has the most homeowners (95.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Saco	Durham
People
Population	20,819Highest	4,262Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	+8.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average	42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME
	Saco and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	19.7%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Durham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4%	16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Saco and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.5%Highest ME: 36.2%	34.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8%	4.9%±3.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Saco and Durham 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	$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME
	Durham 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	$322,200±$34kLowest 9% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,249±$385 10% above ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,807Highest 58% above ME	$3,781Lowest 25% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4%	25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Saco and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest ME: 10.7%	4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	95.4%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 3% below ME	28 minHighest 13% above ME
Work from home	19%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9%	20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Durham 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	#14 of 133 in ME
School district	Saco Public Schools	RSU 05
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.