Compare towns
Saco vs Lee vs Biddeford
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%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
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 | Lee | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819 |
5,719Lowest |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Saco and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Saco and Lee 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. |
$352,700±$19kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
| Saco and Biddeford 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. |
$1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
| Lee and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco and Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Lee | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2Lowest |
14.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.