Compare towns
Saco vs Eliot vs Biddeford
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%).
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
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 | Eliot | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819 |
7,146Lowest |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
50.8±5.9Highest 13% above ME |
35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
| Eliot and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Saco and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
27.8%±6.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% ME: 36.2% |
43.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$101,522±$10kHighest 36% above ME |
$72,333±$4kLowest 3% below ME |
| Eliot 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 39% above ME |
$498,900±$62kHighest 68% above ME |
$396,600±$25kLowest 34% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 10% above ME |
$1,948±$471Highest 71% above ME |
$1,292±$100 13% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$4,549 50% above ME |
$4,401Lowest 45% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
55.1%±20.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Eliot and Saco 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% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 3% below ME |
23 minLowest 9% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.4%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.