Compare towns
Saco vs Hampton Falls 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%).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Dayton has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
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 | Hampton Falls | Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
2,328 |
2,313Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
42.1±5.5Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dayton and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 14% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$113,750±$24k 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$398,200±$34kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,215±$867Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Hampton Falls 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%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% 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 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | — | — |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Hampton Falls School District | Dayton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.