What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saco has the most homeowners (72.8%).

Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).

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	Lebanon
People
Population	20,819Highest	14,999Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S.	38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%	14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Saco and Lebanon 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%	21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lebanon 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lebanon 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 14% above U.S.	$98,147±$10kHighest 22% above U.S.
	Lebanon 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 24% above U.S.	$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S.
	Saco and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S.	$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S.
	Lebanon and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S.	$8,149Highest 161% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Saco and Lebanon 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%	7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.	14 minLowest 47% below U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lebanon and Saco 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	#29 of 120 in NH
School district	Saco Public Schools	Lebanon School District
High school in town	None in town	Lebanon High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.