What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saco has the most people working from home (19%).

Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Saco	Middleton
People
Population	20,819Highest	9,816Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S.	43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Saco and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.2%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Middleton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Saco and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Saco and Middleton 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.	$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S.	$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S.	$1,407±$284Highest about the U.S. average
	Middleton 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.	$8,785Highest 182% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Saco and Middleton 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%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Saco and Middleton 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	#71 of 282 in MA
School district	Saco Public Schools	Middleton
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.