Compare towns
Saco vs Lyman vs Dayton
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%).
Lyman has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Dayton has the highest household income ($114k).
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 | Lyman | Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
4,612 |
2,313Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
42.1±5.5Lowest 6% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Dayton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Lyman 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Saco and Dayton 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 23% above ME |
$87,284±$14kLowest 17% above ME |
$113,750±$24kHighest 52% above ME |
| Dayton 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 39% above ME |
$360,400±$44kLowest 22% above ME |
$398,200±$34k 34% above ME |
| Saco and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$1,063±$522Lowest 7% below ME |
$1,215±$867 7% above ME |
| Saco and Dayton 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 |
$2,717Lowest 11% below ME |
$3,872 28% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 3% below ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Lyman 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 | #40 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Dayton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.