Compare towns
Saco vs Lee vs Kittery
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 oldest population (median age 55.2).
Kittery has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
5,719Lowest |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Saco and Kittery 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Kittery 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% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Kittery 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. |
$352,700±$19kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$1,716±$224Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Lee 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. |
$4,518 45% 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% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Lee | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2Lowest |
9.9Highest |
| 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.