Compare towns
Saco vs Meredith vs Hampton
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%).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($545k median).
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 | Meredith | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
6,758Lowest |
10,101 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7 32% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Saco and Hampton 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% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Hampton 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% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Hampton 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. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$97,163±$4kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$545,300±$63kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,654±$93Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Hampton 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.