Compare towns
Saco vs Mapleton vs Limerick 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 the most people working from home (19%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Limerick has the most homeowners (89.8%).
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 | Limerick | Old Orchard Beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
1,884Lowest |
3,400 |
9,244 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.2% ME: +2.6% |
+3.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
40.4±9.2Lowest 10% 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% |
18.7%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
6.5%±2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Limerick 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%±3.6Lowest 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% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
42.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
7%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Old Orchard Beach and Saco 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 |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$101,172±$15kHighest 35% above ME |
$60,050±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
| Limerick 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$269,400±$29k 9% below ME |
$366,600±$38k 24% above ME |
| Saco and Old Orchard Beach 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 |
$1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
$1,246±$182 9% above ME |
| Limerick 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 |
$2,520 17% below 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% |
38.8%±14.2 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% |
6.9% ME: 10.7% |
14.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
89.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
68.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
38 minHighest 53% above ME |
22 minLowest 11% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.2%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
15%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Limerick 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 | — | — | #67 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | RSU 23 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Old Orchard Beach High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.