What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saco has the oldest population (median age 44.9).

Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).

Henniker is a college town. 27% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Saco	Henniker
People
Population	20,819Highest	6,197Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+27.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S.	31.1±6.1Lowest 20% below U.S.
Kids under 18	16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%	15.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Saco and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.5%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Saco and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	27%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S.	$95,206±$21kHighest 18% above U.S.
	Henniker 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±$17kHighest 24% above U.S.	$356,700±$49kLowest 7% above U.S.
	Saco and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,249±$385Highest 12% below U.S.	$1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S.
	Saco and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S.	$8,877Highest 185% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1%	43.5%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Saco and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Saco and Henniker 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	#56 of 120 in NH
School district	Saco Public Schools	Henniker School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.