Compare towns
Saco vs Keene vs Eliot
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%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
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 | Keene | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819 |
22,939Highest |
7,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Saco and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco and Eliot 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Keene School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| 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.