Compare towns
Saco vs Meredith vs Ossipee
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%).
Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k 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 | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
6,758 |
4,521Lowest |
| 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. |
50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Ossipee 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% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ossipee 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% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest 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% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
| Saco and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$325,500±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Ossipee and Saco 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. |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest 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 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Saco 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 | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.