Compare towns
Saco vs Kittery vs Hampden
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%).
Kittery has the most expensive homes ($469k median).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% 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.
| Measure | Saco | Kittery | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
10,473 |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
46.8±2.3Highest 4% above ME |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
| Kittery and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.9%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
46%Highest ME: 36.2% |
45.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11kLowest 23% above ME |
$93,728±$14k 25% above ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
| Hampden and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$468,500±$31kHighest 58% above ME |
$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 10% above ME |
$1,716±$224Highest 51% above ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
| Kittery and Hampden 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 |
$4,518 49% above ME |
$3,694Lowest 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.9 ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% ME: 74.3% |
67.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 3% below ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.7%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Kittery and Hampden 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Kittery Public Schools | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.