Compare towns
Saco vs Lyme 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%).
Lyme has the highest household income ($134k).
Kittery has the most renters (32.8% 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 | Lyme | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
1,710Lowest |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Saco 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% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery and Lyme 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% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Kittery 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. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,716±$224Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Kittery 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 |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Lyme School District | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
| 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.