Compare towns
Saco vs Freeport vs Biddeford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freeport has the most expensive homes ($508k 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 | Freeport | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819 |
8,802Lowest |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
48.8±4.3Highest 9% above ME |
35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
| Freeport and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Freeport and Saco 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% |
26.7%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% ME: 36.2% |
59.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$107,326±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
$72,333±$4kLowest 3% below ME |
| Freeport 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 |
$508,400±$76kHighest 71% above ME |
$396,600±$25kLowest 34% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 10% above ME |
$1,439±$123Highest 26% above ME |
$1,292±$100 13% above ME |
| Freeport and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 58% above ME |
$5,042Highest 66% above ME |
$4,401Lowest 45% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Freeport 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% |
8.5% ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 3% below ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Freeport 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | RSU 05 | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Freeport High School | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Lowest |
14.1Highest |
| 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.