Compare towns
Saco vs Jefferson 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Jefferson has the most kids (28% under 18).
Dayton has the highest household income ($114k).
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 | Jefferson | Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
2,647 |
2,313Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
42.1±5.5 6% below ME |
| Saco and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Dayton 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% |
18.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest 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% |
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% |
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±$11k 23% above ME |
$85,078±$17kLowest 14% above ME |
$113,750±$24kHighest 52% above ME |
| Dayton 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 39% above ME |
$311,600±$35kLowest 5% above ME |
$398,200±$34k 34% above ME |
| Saco and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$1,120±$130Lowest about the ME average |
$1,215±$867 7% above ME |
| Saco and Dayton 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 |
$3,872 28% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| 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 ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 3% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Dayton 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 | #45 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Jefferson Public Schools | Dayton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.