Compare towns
Saco vs Durham 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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Dayton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
15,080 |
2,313Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
42.1±5.5 8% above U.S. |
| Saco and Dayton 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saco and Dayton 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% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$113,750±$24k 41% above U.S. |
| Durham and Dayton 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. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$398,200±$34kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,215±$867Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Durham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,872Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Saco 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% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Oyster River Coop School District | Dayton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.