Compare towns
Saco vs Freeport vs Ogunquit vs Dayton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Freeport has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Dayton has the youngest population (median age 42.1).
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 | Ogunquit | Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
8,802 |
1,379Lowest |
2,313 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+10.9% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
48.8±4.3 9% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
42.1±5.5Lowest 6% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Dayton and Freeport 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%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% ME: 36.2% |
59.6% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Saco and Dayton 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 |
$107,326±$19k 44% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$113,750±$24k 52% above ME |
| Ogunquit 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 39% above ME |
$508,400±$76k 71% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$398,200±$34kLowest 34% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,439±$123Highest 26% above ME |
— | $1,215±$867Lowest 7% above ME |
| Freeport and Saco 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 |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$3,872Lowest 28% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38%±19.6 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% ME: 10.7% |
8.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
77.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% below ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | #4 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | RSU 05 | — | Dayton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Freeport High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.