Compare towns
Saco vs Mapleton vs Biddeford vs Old Orchard Beach
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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
Old Orchard Beach has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Mapleton | Biddeford | Old Orchard Beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
1,884Lowest |
22,498Highest |
9,244 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6% ME: +2.6% |
+3.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
58±3.5Highest 29% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
6.5%±2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
33.5%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
32.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
42.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
7%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$72,333±$4k 3% below ME |
$60,050±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
| Saco and Mapleton 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$396,600±$25k 34% above ME |
$366,600±$38k 24% above ME |
| 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±$385 10% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,292±$100Highest 13% above ME |
$1,246±$182 9% above ME |
| Biddeford and Saco 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$4,401 45% above ME |
$3,426 13% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6 ME: 48.4% |
50.7%±15Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Old Orchard Beach 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 ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
14.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
68.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
22 minLowest 11% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
15%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Old Orchard Beach 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 | — | #111 of 133 in ME | #67 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Biddeford Public Schools | RSU 23 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Biddeford High School | Old Orchard Beach High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.1Highest |
7.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.