Compare towns
Saco vs Keene vs Old Orchard Beach
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).
Old Orchard Beach has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Old Orchard Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819 |
22,939Highest |
9,244Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Saco and Keene 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% |
33.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$60,050±$11kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Saco and Keene 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. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$366,600±$38k 10% above U.S. |
| Saco and Old Orchard Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,246±$182Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Keene 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. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$3,426Lowest 10% 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% |
50.7%±15Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Old Orchard Beach and Saco 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% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco and Keene 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 | #67 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Keene School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | — |
| 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.