What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saco has the most people working from home (19%).

Jefferson has the most kids (28% 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.

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

Measure	Saco	Jefferson
People
Population	20,819Highest	2,647Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	+5.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average	38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME
Kids under 18	16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	18.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Jefferson and Saco 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 ME: 36.2%	27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8%	4.6%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Saco and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME	$85,078±$17kLowest 14% above ME
	Saco and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME	$311,600±$35kLowest 5% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME	$1,120±$130Lowest about the ME average
	Saco and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,807Highest 58% above ME	$2,587Lowest 15% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4%	29.8%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Saco and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	83.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 3% below ME	30 minHighest 23% above ME
Work from home	19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9%	8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#38 of 133 in ME	#45 of 133 in ME
School district	Saco Public Schools	Jefferson Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.