What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Monroe has the most kids (20.9% under 18).

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	Monroe
People
Population	20,819Highest	786Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S.	51±10.4Highest 31% above U.S.
	Monroe and Saco 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%	20.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Monroe 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%	30.3%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,241±$11kHighest 14% above U.S.	$88,150±$7kLowest 9% above U.S.
	Saco and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S.	$312,700±$58kLowest 6% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,249±$385Highest 12% below U.S.	$1,104±$218Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Saco and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,807Highest 54% above U.S.	$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48%±39Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Saco and Monroe 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%	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.	27 minHighest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#38 of 133 in ME	—
School district	Saco Public Schools	Monroe School District
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.