Compare towns
Saco vs Exeter vs Old Orchard Beach
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 the most homeowners (72.8%).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Exeter | Old Orchard Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
16,151 |
9,244Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Old Orchard Beach and Exeter 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 14% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$60,050±$11kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Exeter 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. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$366,600±$38kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,246±$182Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Exeter 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,426Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±15 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Old Orchard Beach 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #67 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 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.